American Fork uses strategy, then hangs on to down Dons

SPANISH FORK — The American Fork Cavemen executed the art of hitting the other way to perfection Tuesday night in their critical Region 6 win over the Spanish Fork Dons.

The Cavemen only hit a few balls to the left side of the pitcher's mound. All of their 11 hits, 10 of them singles, were either up the middle or to the right side. They used the skillful hitting to jump out to a 9-0 lead and then hang on for the 9-7 road victory.

"We know (Spanish Fork starter Riley Gordon) has good stuff and mixes it up quite well, so we told our hitters to stay back and drive it up the middle," Cavemen coach Jared Ingersoll said.

Both teams are now tied for second in the league with 4-3 marks, a game ahead of Provo and Timpview, both at 3-4.

"This is a really big win for us," Ingersoll said.

American Fork pitcher Sam Brooks got a rare win and save in the same game. He started and threw five strong innings before Spanish Fork finally touched him for three runs in the sixth. But after coming out for four batters in the seventh, he returned to the mound with the bases loaded and the winning run on base to end the Dons' rally.

"That's a tough situation when you think you're done and then get the call again. But he came back, kept his emotions and composure and pitched a heck of a game for us today," Ingersoll said.

Even though the Dons scattered 12 hits, 10 of them off of Brooks, the Cavemen righty was masterful with his curve ball and off-speed pitches. The Dons by no means tore the cover off the ball, and Brooks enticed them into two key double-play grounders in the third and fourth innings.

The Cavemen, who put the lead-off hitter on base in each of the first five innings, scored three runs in the first inning on three singles and an error. They busted the game open in the fifth with six more runs, which ended Gordon's stint on the mound.

The first run in the fifth scored on a wild pitch. Hap Holmstead knocked in his second run with a single to right field. Another run scored on a squeeze bunt by Brady Palmer. The fourth run crossed when Tyson Davis singled to right. Two more scored when Josh Jones doubled to deep right.

Spanish Fork wasted a golden opportunity in the third. The Dons loaded the bases with one out, but American Fork right fielder Dan Mangum threw out Kyle Andrus, who was trying to score on a sacrifice fly, to end the inning.

About the only mistake Brooks made in the first five innings was the balk that put a runner in scoring position, which set up Gordon's two-out RBI single that made the score 9-1 after five. The Dons scored three more in the sixth on singles by Andrus and Nick Welsh, a double to deep center by Dallas Pruitt and a sacrifice fly.

After giving up a lead-off single in the seventh, Brooks gave way to Holmstead on the mound. However, two singles and two hit batters later, Ingersoll went back to Brooks. After giving up a sacrifice fly and walking a batter, Brooks struck out Dustin Creer on a full-count pitch and then enticed Gordon into a soft pop-out behind second base to end the game.

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E-mail: jimr@desnews.com