Lehi baseball knocks off Davis, returns to 6A championship
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- A Lehi baserunner dives back to first base during the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- A Lehi batter swings at a pitch during the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- Lehi players watch the action during the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- Lehi junior Hazen Elton throws a pitch during the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- Lehi players prepare to take the field for the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- Lehi junior Dawson Brown makes a catch during the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- Lehi players prepare to take the field for the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- Lehi players celebrate after the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- Lehi head coach Eric Madsen talks to his players during the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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- Lehi senior Mays Madsen makes a lunging catch during the 6A elimination game against Davis at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
It will be an all-Utah County 6A championship series as Lehi punched its ticket by defeating Davis, 7-5, at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Thursday night.
Lehi is the defending champion but both the Pioneers and American Fork have had dominant baseball programs in the last several years. The Pioneers did have to play two extra games as they were defeated by Davis Tuesday. Then Lehi downed the Darts on Wednesday, setting up one more game with Davis to determine the winner from the bottom side of the bracket.
Meanwhile, American Fork remains undefeated throughout the tournament. The two teams begin their series Friday at 4 p.m. and will continue their best-of-three series Saturday at 11 a.m., and if a third game is needed, that is scheduled to 4 p.m., also on Saturday.
Lehi got to this point with that gut-check victory over the Darts coming back from an early 4-0 deficit.
“The good thing is, that after the early four spot, the coaches called them together and told them ‘there is so much game left, you just got to keep playing and keep going’ and I thought our guys did,” said Lehi head coach Eric Madsen.
When Davis scored four runs, it was in highly unusual fashion as Davis only had one hit as Pioneer starting pitcher Sawyer Call struggled with his control, walking the first two Dart batters.
Even though Davis hurt its chances of really breaking open the game with a failed sacrifice bunt and a strikeout by its third and fourth batters in the line-up, the next two batters walked, forcing home a run. Then another Dart run came in via a wild pitch before Cayman Sanchez singled in two runs.
Call was lifted and Hazen Elton came into the game doing a masterful job as Davis only scored one-run the rest of the way, a solo shot by Kaleb Weaver in the top of the sixth inning. Elton struck out nine Dart hitters in six and one-third innings.
Davis starting pitcher Lincoln Green was strong in his first three innings but began to labor in the fourth hitting the first two Pioneer hitters in Dawson Brown and Brandon Manoonkin. He was then relieved by southpaw Spencer Cannon.
A throwing error by the catcher on a sacrifice bunt by Jake Welch allowed Lehi to crack the scoreboard and put runners on first and third. Ozzie Williams then drew a walk to put the Pioneers on the scoreboard. Lehi then scored and loaded the bases again when Cooper Williams got on base when Davis failed to make a play in the infield. Gavin Yates struck out for the first out but then Mays Madsen drew a walk which forced in a run to make it 4-3 causing Davis to make another pitching change.
Boston Drakulich then walked, forcing in another run making the score 4-4. Drakulich was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice at second but Cole Ybarra still reached first after Davis failed to complete the double play and this plated a run. But this was when some alert base running by Mays Madsen added to Lehi’s tally.
Mays Madsen, who was on second when the play started, scored from third base. There was some dispute on whether Davis had called timeout to kill the play. The umpiring crew huddled and said play was still live and Madsen’s run put Lehi ahead 6-4. Davis was able to finally end the inning but the Pioneers had scored six runs without even a hit.
When Mays Madsen scored, his father and head coach Eric Madsen, who was also coaching third base, had this to say about the play.
“I watched and saw that no one (from Davis) had raised their hands (to call timeout),” Eric Madsen said. “I said (to Mays) ‘time’s in’ and he’s always looking to take another base. Our guys do a good job with that. I thought that was kind of a turning point, a big run too.”
Catcher Brandon Manoonkin was an offensive hero for the Pioneers with one hit but also reaching base twice, once by being hit by the pitch and another walk. As a catcher, he gave way to courtesy runner Kade Bailey, who scored two runs including the one in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Cooper Williams that gave Lehi a bit more breathing room.
As for Manoonkin, he was more than willing to do what it took to ensure his team’s victory.
“Will it, wear it, get on base,” Manoonkin said. “Play that small ball and you will win a lot of games.”
Since Lehi’s has had to play those extra games to make the championship series, they have had to go deeper into a pitching staff and the senior leader behind the dish has been a steadying force.
“I just tell them to relax and have fun,” related Manoonkin. “It’s just another game. You don’t want them to go out there and think too much and end up struggling. So just go out there, have fun and our defense will have your back.”
