(Record 21-2 / 9-2)

The Flyers reeled off a 4-0 record to win the Red Rock Classic as the host school in late March. The Flyers are now riding a 17 game winning streak and the blessing that any Region 9 school has, is when you have 3 reliable starters, and only play 2 league games a week vs the 3 games a week that northern Utah schools do, it provides a weapon out of the pen in close games, or was the case in week 3, when Coach Danny Ipson decided with his 1st two starters to go in a piggy back situation in game one Tuesday’s. Then they threw their 3rd starter Logan Leavitt in game two. The Flyers are much like Snow Canyon and Mountain Ridge in next level talent, with C-Ridge Erickson (BYU) the top defensive catcher in the state in the last 8 years. SS-Boston Vest (New Mexico State), 3B-Logan Leavitt (Glendale CC), 1B/RHP-Cooper Bartholomew (CSI), LHP-Braxton Yates (CSI).

This past week, the Flyers took down the two-time defending 4A state champion Crimson Cliff Mustangs by scores of 8-2 and 5-3 respectively. In Game one, the Flyers were led by SS-Boston Vest with his 3-3 night, 3 doubles and 4 RBI’s, while Junior UTL-Carter Turley was 2-4 with a HR to the left of the batter's eye and 2 RBI. Not to be outdone, senior C-Ridge Erickson was 2-4 with 3 runs out of the lead off spot. Logan Leavitt and Braxton Yates piggy backed on the 2 and 5 inn stints to scatter 7 hits, walk 2 and strike out 9 batters. In Game 2 Boston Vest led the charge once again with a 2 hit performance with a double and triple, while Yates also turned in a 2 hit game of his own. Junior RHP-Jake Andreas had his best performance of the season, as he turned in 6 spectacular inns of three hit ball, while not walking a batter, as he struck out 12 Mustang hitters. 

(Record 18-3/  10-0)

Lead Region 9 by one full game over #1 ranked Dixie  and both teams could technically be ranked 1a and 1b. The two powerhouses finish the season with a head-head collision in the last week of play. The Warriors are loaded with next level talent with RHP-Talan Kelly (Utah Tech) and touched 94 vs Lone Peak. SS-Crew Secrist (CSI), transfer RHP-Darius Henderson who at some point will make his debut up to 94, while nursing tenderness in his right arm. RHP/OF-Makaio Swensen (Salt Lake CC) hitting .491 with a 88-91 mph FB. OF-Ryder Harrison (Salt Lake CC), RHP-Jackson Kirby (Glendale CC), RHP-Kyson Goates (Lassen CC) and RHP-Andrew Lyon and his mid to upper 80’s FB.

One of the top 3 deepest pitching staffs in the state, showed up big time this past week against Power 25 team Desert Hills with two one run victories of 3-2 and 4-3. In game one, Kyson Goates went 5.1 strong innings on the mud and SS-Crew Secrist turned in a 2 hit game for the Warriors, but game two was a barn burner as D-Hills out hit the Warriors 10 to 7, but Snow Canyon’s pitching did the trick with an early 3-0 deficit after 3 innings to shut down the Thunder the rest of the way, to give the pitching depth of the Warriors a chance to climb back and take the lead on the bottom of the 5th and hold on for the win. Junior Andrew Lyon didn’t have his best stuff after punching out 11 in his previous start to earn player of the week honors, but RHP-Makaio Swensen came on for the best four innings of shutout baseball, scattering 4 hits, with NO walks and 4 strikeouts. RHP-Talan Kelly who closed out the game on Tuesday, did so once again on Friday and preserved the win by pitching the final inning, giving up a hit and a walk with the tying and go ahead runs on base, and struck out two batters and securing the game with a game ending called strike 3, to keep the Warriors a perfect 10-0 in Region 9 play, and also a 10 game winning streak of their own in play, with next week's showdown for the Region 9 crown on the line vs 9-1 and #1 ranked Dixie. Both teams have combined to win 25 in a row!

(Record 14-2 / 5-0)

In the Golden Eagles two games of the week, they defeated Cedar Valley scores of 3-0 and 7-3. In game one, junior catcher AJ Thomas and soph 1B/3B-Cy Chrisman led the way with two hits apiece, with Chrisman supplying a double and two RBI’s. Junior LHP-Chase Johnston and senior RHP-Bennett Averett combined on the one hit shutout, with Johnston working 6.2 flawless innings of one hit scoreless work, walking three and striking out 12 Aviator hitters! Bennett came on to get the final out and strike out the only batter he faced to secure the 3-0 win. In game two, Thomas provided an RBI double and sac fly, while Johnston had two hits and Chrisman three hits with one being a double. 

(Record 14-2 / 12-0)

Jumps from #10 to 6 this week. In game one of the three game series sweep of Highland, junior OF-Easton Fry led the way with two hits, with each resulting in a double and triple. Junior RHP-Miles Layton, who fashioned a perfect game a couple of weeks ago, threw 4 scoreless innings with 2 BB and 8 strikeouts! In game 2 junior RHP-Case Beames at the plate, along with junior SS-Jack Saba, junior C-Cody Smith and junior 3B-Riley Brown all had big games with Beames, Smith, Brown and OF-Easton Fry all powering HR’s to help the Bengals to the 19-0 shutout. On the mound, junior Josh Mawhinney threw 4 scoreless innings. In game 3, SS-Jack Saba, Miles Layton and senior Braxton Biesinger all had multiple hits with Biesinger contributing a 3B, Layton a double and triple, while Saba had a big game with 5 RBI’s and big HR! On the mound, Beames went 5 strong innings of 2 hit baseball, while walking one one batter and struck out 9. 

(Record 16- / 6-3)

The Bulldogs took on perennial powerhouse Desert Hills in Provo, and knocked off the Thunder in the upset of week six. In two narrowly contested games, the Bulldogs secured both wins by scores of 4-2 and 5-4 to jump all the way from #15 in the Power 25 to #8 and now at #5. It’s the Bulldogs highest ranking in our 4th year of polling. (Took two out of three from Mountain View)

(Record 13-4 / 4-2)

The Tigers are a tough team to measure unless seeing them in person as I have a couple of times, as they don’t display their stats on any app or platform. They have been led by 3B/OF-Merrick Bostock who two weeks ago hit for the cycle and hasn’t stopped hitting. Last week's pitcher of the week, senior Easton Davies, RHP (Arizona State) punched out 13 over 6 innings. BYU commit Owen Miller, RHP/1B has been a mainstay on the mound and a driving force at the plate with numerous multi-hit games with power production. The Tigers secured 3 blowout wins vs Timpview by scores of 15-4 and 12-2 and then captured their 3rd win of the week with a blowout of 10-1 vs Wasatch in week 6. This past week, the Tigers defeated Wasatch, but lost twice to Springville, as they ran into the buzz saw named Easton Barrett in front of over 15 MLB scouts in a highly anticipated match-up between Barrett and Davies, the former Future Game West Coast ProCase and Area Code alums, who both sit in the low 90’s and are both headed to Arizona State. 2B-Zach Engemann provided a 3 hit game with a double and triple in Monday’s affair, with another 3 hit game in Thursday’s match up, with a double and big HR. 

(Record 16-6 / 9-3)

The talent is there with 3 next level talents. Jr RHP-Holden Potter is a upper 80’s touching 90 mph arm with a solid breaking ball and is taking phone calls from area top JC’s. Also Sr RHP-Degan Rigby a CSI recruit is another upper 80’s physical arm, as well as power hitting 1B and Salt Lake CC recruit, Gehrig Marble is hitting .542 with 7 extra base hits in the first 13 games. Two weeks back, the Bears lived up to last weeks prediction as they move into the top 10, after wins against 6A Westlake 12-1, a 4-3 defeat of 5A Woods Cross and last weeks #10 Grantsville. In week 5, the Bears were stunned by an upstart Ridgeline two out of three, as they dropped the first two games of the series by scores of 3-0 and 9-5, before heading back home to avoid the sweep by taking game 3 by a score of 14-7 with Potter on the mound and didn’t have his best stuff, but pitched well enough and got his bat going with a 3 hit day, a HR and 2 RBI’s. Degan Rigby had a 3 hit day with 4 RBI and 2 2B’s to power the Bear offense.

(Record 17-1 / 8-0)

(6 of their 11 wins vs 4A/5A teams) The Cowboys are led by senior RHP-Kyle Brimhall. The 6-3 righty and his mid to upper 80’s FB has led to a 3-1 record with 53 K’s in 31 IP. At the plate Brimhall is hitting .400 with a state tying 7 HR’s and 26 RBI. In week 3 vs Morgan, Brimhall went 5 innings, allowing just one run and struck out 10! In week four the Cowboys dropped their first game of the season to Bear River by a score of 8-0 after sweeping Ben Lomond 19-0 and 21-3. The Cowboys ran into a buzz saw with hard throwing RHP prospect Holden Potter and his upper 80, low 90’s FB as he threw a CG 7 inn SHO with only one hit and that was the only runner with 10 K outs. In Week 5 the Cowboys put up 20 runs by scores of 10-0 and 10-7 over hapless Ogden. This past week the Cowboys took 2 from South Summit 5-1 and 21-6. Brimhall punched out 5 of the 8 batters he faced over 2 scoreless innings. In game two, 4 Cowboys collected multiple hit games with Brimhall again collecting 4 RBI and a HR for good measure. 

(Record 16-5 / 10-1)

A slow start to their season, unlike a year ago when the Wasps came out of the blocks on fire with a 7-1 record vs 4A-6A competition and eventually steamrolling to the 3A state title, the Wasps have hit their stride now with state leading Player of the Year candidate SS/RHP-Austin Park leading the way, the Wasps have a player who virtually counts as two players in one and at this point, he’s making a case to either go both ways at the D1 level or maybe taking his right arm and mimicking what future Big Leaguer and former Desert Hill’s star Drew Thorpe did just 5 years ago and that’s make a case that he could factor either way at BYU. Park threw two straight NO-Hitters in back to back weeks and missed a 3rd straight with a one hit shutout, giving him a nomination for the state in the national player of the week honors. The lanky SS/RHP and his 90 mph FB, has thrown 32.1 innings with only 14 hits and 5 runs allowed to go along with a gaudy 3 BB’s and 56 K outs! At the plate, Park is hitting .582 with 15 extra base hits and a state leading 42 RBI’s. Park is ahead of state runner up leader Haigen Reed from Desert Hills at 37, who also is one of Park’s closest competitors for state MVP honors. Not to be outdone, but the Wasps have as good a 3 man rotation as any in the state, with junior Connor Cowan who in his 24 innings pitched has walked only 8 and is averaging nearly 2 K outs an inning with 44. Senior RHP-Kanyon Matinson also is putting up big numbers on the mound with 34.2 innings pitched, 23 BB’s and 62 K outs himself! 

(Record 16-6/ 9-0)

The Timberwolves jump back into the Power 25 riding a 9 game winning streak since leaving St. Grove and their last loss vs #1 Dixie. It’s astonishing what iconic head coach Kim Nelson has done with losing virtually most of his big guns from last year's 5A state championship team and now has his club headed once again moving down the tracks towards another deep run this time the 4A level which is loaded with high caliber teams. With seven players driving in 10 runs or more, and a deep lineup from top to bottom, this is the type of lineup that only high end HS college talented pitchers will be able to navigate through. In week 6, the Timberwolves run-ruled Cedar 13-3 and are on a 10 game winning streak. This next week is a top 10 matchup in a 3 game series with #5 Provo. 

(Record 11-4 / 4-1)

With Easton Barrett and Junior Lauaki, ASU and Oregon signees are leading the way. Barrett made his ‘24 debut on the mound two weeks ago after a remarkable 10 month recovery from Tommy John surgery with 2 hitless and scoreless innings with 4 BB and 5 SO’s. Lauaki chipped in with a 2-3 day vs. Union with a 2 run HR. Barrett will be attracting a slew of MLB scouts on either on Monday or Friday or both as he is on a 50 pitch count and has seen his FB reform to 89-91 mph and by draft time, should tick back up to 92-94 /// In week 5 the Red Devils took care of Cedar Valley twice by scores of 13-2 and 8-5, before running into a buzz saw in #3 ranked Maple Mountain, as Easton Barret is still trying to find his command after his return to the mound. Maple Mountain also over the past two seasons has neutralized the big bat of Junior Lauaki where in the 3 game district playoff a year ago intentionally walked the Red Devils slugger 10 times and continued that trend another 2 times after hitting a 3 run HR. In his last 14 plate appearances vs the Golden Eagles, Lauaki has been intentionally walked 12 times and the two times they’ve pitched to him, he’s blasted 2 long HR’s! We will see what Monday holds as the Red Devils and Golden Eagles go at it again in region 7 play at 3:30 at Springville. Time for the Red Devils to hit two way sensation Easton Barrett behind Lauaki and let Barrett do the damage if Lauaki is passed over at the plate or pitched around?! (Took 2 from Orem)

(Record 15-6 / 11-1)

Ridgeline was in the Power 25 at one point, dropped out and now has gotten hot at the right time headed towards the finish line. The Riverhawks pulled off the upset of Bear River and jump into 1st place in Region 11, with one game separating each of the top 3 teams. The boys from Millville may not consider it an upset, but even with Mountain Crest a game ahead of Bear River in the standings, these are the two most talented teams in the region on paper with next level college talent being the separator with unranked Mountain Crest. The Millville “nine” took down a next level arm in Degan Rigby even though Rigby threw a great game in a 3-0 win for the Riverhawks. They then take game 2 by a score of 9-5, before dropping game three 14-7. Ridgeline was led by senior RHP-Bode Hansen in game one as the stocky RH’er threw a CG 7 inning 3 hit gem with NO walks and 5 K outs. In game two sophomores Cooper Clark-OF and Nate Dahle-OF powered the offense with two hit games with an RBI apiece and Clark registering a 2B for good measure. Dahle once again collected 2 hits in the game 3 defeat, but senior catcher Trey Purser (CSI) was not to be outdone, as he had 7 hits over the next two contests, which was reminiscent of his big junior year, as he went 4-4 with 2 runs scored, 3 RBI and a mammoth HR to bring the Millville fans to their feet. Then Saturday the Riverhawks complete a 3 out of 4 win week with an 11-7 win over Spanish Fork as Purser again has a big game, going 3-4 with 2 runs and 4 RBI’s, contributing to 6 of the 11 runs with a 2B and another long HR! (Took all 3 vs Logan by a total score of 40-1)

(Record 11-5 / 5-1)

 The defending 6A state champs go 3-1 in the late March, Red Rock Classic with their lone loss to new #1 Dixie and then run off 3 in a row vs Timpanogos, Coronado and Desert Oasis out of Las Vegas. Two weeks ago the Cavemen prevailed over Fremont 5-4 in a game played at BYU, with the big bats coming from sophomore 2B/DH-Bode Gaggero with 4-4 showing, OF-Isaac Murdoch (Utah Valley) had a 2 hit game with a 3B, 1B-Dax Watts (Utah) a 2 hit game himself with a 2B and 2 RBI, while CF-CJ Mascaro (TCU) had an RBI single, 2 BB and 3 SB’s to pace the bats. Senior LHP-Court Taylor (CSI) came on in the middle innings to throw 4.1 strong innings of 2 hit baseball, while striking out 8 batters. The glue to the team is two way SS/RHP-Jett Walker (Colorado Mesa) as he fronts the rotation and is a highlight reel at SS with emerging power. This past week in the 15-8 loss to NV power Basic, soph Cache Poulson, C, Bode Gaggero, 2B and Cooper Jones, SS/2B all had two hit games. In the Liberty, NV defeat, Jett Walker (Colorado Mesa) collected two hits with a 2B to lead the bats. In game 3 of the Las Vegas tourney, Walker again had a 2 hit game with a 3B for good measure. The Cavemen are a much different offensive team this year, as they are usually in the .390 territory as an offense, but are at .301 right now and many of the big bats are not producing at the enormous rate as years past, but that is due to the configuration of the potency of their lineup and getting pitches to hit as in years past, when they were a juggernaut. But come tournament time, this bunch has played for 3 straight state titles, winning 2 and are battle tested in big moments ///  In Week five the Caveman drop to #14 only in part to one of, if not the toughest schedule in the state vs a tough 6A strength of schedule and the early season loss to #1 Dixie and the powerhouse competition in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and finally the big time play of Brighton. To be ranked 13th is not a slight, as the Cavemen haven’t hit their stride, and is a testament to my respect for Jarod Ingersoll and staff.  As with LSU at the collegiate level this year, coming off one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory, not all highly talented teams can just steam roll every opponent one year after another. But as mentioned, don’t count the Cavemen out just yet, as one good week from this college committed roster and talented staff of coaches, the Cavemen could erase all doubts as to whether or not they can make a 4th straight return to the state title game! (Took all 3 vs Pleasant Grove)

(Record 10-6 / 3-3)

The Sentinels traveled to FL for the IMG National Classic and went 2-2 against stiff competition on a national stage, with the biggest bat coming from junior 3B-Stockton Fowlks, who went an absurd 10-14 with 3 doubles and 2 triples as part of his big week. Senior RHP-Jaxson Reiser threw a 5 inning, 4 hit game, allowing only one run and striking out 9 in one of the Sentinel wins and in the other victory, Junior RHP-Ethan Iacono, went 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, while striking out 8 White Plains, NY hitters. Last week the Sentinels beat Kearns 13-0 with Austin Ellis, C having a big game with 2 hits and 4 RBI’s with a 2B. Andy Decker, LHP threw a NO-HITTER in a 5 inn run rule with one BB and 13 K outs! In the 8-3 win over Mountain Crest, once again Austin Ellis had a 3 hit game with another 2B and 2 RBI’s. Jaxson Reiser, CF/RHP had a two hit game and struckout 7 over 5 inns to get the win. The only team in the state with 4 yes 4 D1 signees or commits in RHP/CF-Jaxson Reiser (Oklahoma), LHP-Dylan Singleton (Yale), OF-Cooper Goff (TCU) and C-Austin Ellis (Northwestern State), but the next wave of 3B-Stockton Fowlks, RHP-Ethan Iacono and his 88-91 mph FB, and on base machine LF-Remington Edwards. All should be committed before seasons end with Edwards and summer time with Fowlks and Iacono. Iacono will most likely be a D1 commit with an offer on the table and others talking to him currently. 

(Record 12-3 / 6-0)

Took 2 From Clearfield and one from Northridge. 

(Record 15-8 / 6-4)

This past week, the Thunder knocked off Cedar 12-0 and 11-8 to remain in 3rd place in Region 9 play. Each team is separated by a game throughout in a hotly contested region 9. The Thunder sport a 9-4 non conference record with a 4-2 of record against 5A/6A schools. The Thunder are led at the plate by one of the bigger bats in the state with Junior Haigen Reed, RF and his .500 BA, state leading 7 HR’s and also a state leading 37 RBI’s. Soph SS-Harmon Skeen has been a huge find and success this season as he’s carrying a .477 BA, 9 extra base hits and 20 RBI with the two big bats right in the middle of the order. (Lost twice to Snow Canyon)

(Record 12-5 / 6-0)

(Beat Cedar Valley, beat Timpview twice and lost to Uintah by a run)

(Record 11-3 / 5-1)

(Took 2 out of 3 from Bingham)

(Record 12-4 / 4-2)

(Took 2 of 3 from Fremont)

(Record 10-6 / 4-2)

(Swept 3 from Herriman by a total score of 35-1)

(Record 14-8 / 7-5)

The two-time defending 4A State Champs go 0-2 in week five, dropping a heartbreaker to #2 Snow Canyon on Tuesday 10-7 in 12 innings at Crimson and then dropping game two 8-1 back at Snow Canyon. The Mustangs have been led by senior Tyler West, CF and his .525 BA with 32 hits, 8 extra base hits and 27 SB’s over 18 games. Senior Trey Evans (CSN), LF has 10 extra base hits and 19 RBI’s. Senior 3B/2B-Trevor Pincock (Glendale CC) is hitting .420. This past week the Mustangs got all they could handle from Pine View and came away with a 2 game series sweep of the Panthers by scores of 8-6 and 11-7 (Lost Twice to Dixie)

(Record 15-7 / 9-3)

(took all 3 from Hillcrest)

(14-8-1 / 10-2 )

(Split with North Sanpete and lost to Cedar)