1 / 13

The Lone Peak baseball team celebrates a home run hit by Boston Walkenhorst (4) in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

2 / 13

Lone Peak's Grady Slesk throws a pitch in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

3 / 13

Lone Peak's Landon Fry (27) and Kingston Stroshine (9) celebrate with teammate Boston Walkenhorst after a home run in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

4 / 13

Luke Robley of Skyridge (2) leaps to catch the ball as Lone Peak's Kingston Stroshine slides into second base in a Region 3 baseball game on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

5 / 13

Skyridge catcher Boston Sundberg reaches for a throws as Lone Peak's Kingston Stroshine tries to score in a Region 3 baseball game on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

6 / 13

Lone Peak's Christian Ritchie rounds third in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

7 / 13

Rip Roberts of Skyridge tags out Lone Peak's Crew Nelson in a Region 3 baseball game on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

8 / 13

Rip Roberts of Skyridge throws to first base in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

9 / 13

Lone Peak's Kingston Stroshine celebrates after hitting a double in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

10 / 13

Lone Peak's Dallin Scharmann throws to first base in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

11 / 13

Lone Peak's Landon Fry (27) and Kingston Stroshine (9) celebrate with teammate Boston Walkenhorst after a home run in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

12 / 13

Lone Peak's Grady Slesk (left) throws to first base Lone Peak's Landon Fry (27) and Kingston Stroshine (9) celebrate with teammate Boston Walkenhorst after a home run in a Region 3 baseball game against Skyridge on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

13 / 13

Rip Roberts of Skyridge takes a swing against Lone Peak Lone Peak's Landon Fry (27) and Kingston Stroshine (9) celebrate with teammate Boston Walkenhorst after a home run in a Region 3 baseball game on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

❮ ❯

Lone Peak baseball coach Matt Bezzant has one regret about senior pitcher Grady Slesk.

“It sucks that he’s a senior,” Bezzant said.

Slesk was terrific in Tuesday’s Region 3 showdown, which featured the top two teams in 6A RPI (Lone Peak No. 1, Skyridge No. 2). After giving up a couple of hits and a run in the first inning, Slesk held the Falcons to just one hit the rest of the way, striking out eight in the Knights’ 9-2 victory.

“He’s been so good for us since he was a sophomore, when he led the state in strikeouts,” Bezzant said. “One thing he does really well is he usually throws everything for strikes at any count. If he doesn’t throw well, he just finds a way to redial it for the next outing.”

Lone Peak came into last week’s three-game series with American Fork (No. 3 in 6A RPI) undefeated at 13-0. Slesk struggled in the series opener, giving up seven runs (five earned) and nine hits in a 9-4 loss. The two teams split the next two games, each decided by one run.

“Last week was rough, but this week I made a little tweak,” Slesk said. “I was able to command my pitches better. Just a little tweak here and there helped me fix what I was struggling with. Everything felt sharper and I was throwing harder.”

Skyridge (11-6 overall, 2-5 Region 3) got on the board first on Tuesday, Miles Robinson stroking a double and coming home on a Boston Sundberg single in the top of the first inning. Lone Peak tied things up in the bottom of the inning, freshman Kingston Stroshine scoring on a Skyridge error.

Slesk gave up a single to Luke Robley to open the third, but then retired 12 straight batters.

“In my opinion, when he goes to the next level, he’s a guy every coach is going to love because he just wants the baseball,” Bezzant said. “You give it to him and he’ll keep attacking.”

The Knights went up 3-1 in the third, Boston Walkenhorst’s solo home run to left the highlight. Lone Peak opened things up in a six-run fifth sending ten batters to the plate. Crew Nelson’s two-run single pushed the home team’s lead to 9-1 entering the sixth.

Skyridge manufactured a run in the sixth behind a hit batsman, a walk and a Lone Peak error but that was just a blip. Slesk struck out the final two batters in a 1-2-3 seventh to push his record to 5-1. The rest of his numbers are also impressive, including a 1.51 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 37 innings of work.

The Knights are 15-2 overall and improved to 5-2 in Region 3 play.

Slesk said the cohesiveness on the team is “a millions times better” than last season, when Lone Peak finished with a 14-16 mark.

“I just think the reason we’re good this year is because of the chemistry we have,” he said. “We all stayed together. We haven’t transferred all over the place like most other teams. And in baseball, you need that chemistry to succeed. Of course, we have new new talent, too. I think just that chemistry, the bond, just having fun, is why we’re winning.”

Bezzant added: “Our seniors and juniors really like each other. There doesn’t seem to be any animosity between them. Mason Johnson’s our junior catcher. We’ve split time him with him and our senior (Braden Packer). All I’ve seen is both of them rooting each other on. That’s hard in today’s world, right? When you’re sitting there competing with other guys during practice then root each other on, that pushes us and we better.

“So we’re rotating guys here and there, and then just trying to find a good core and be ready to play in the state tournament. In order to do that, you need to have good team chemistry. And right now we’re doing a good job with that.”

Johnsen, Nelson and Stroshine had two hits each as the Knights totaled 12 against Skyridge.

The two teams will finish their three-game series on Friday.