Cavemen put a leash on Bulldogs

AMERICAN FORK — Hap Holmstead dashed the Provo Bulldogs' hopes of winning sole possession of Region 6's No. 2 seed for the 4A baseball playoffs with the first pitch in the bottom of the seventh as he swung for the fences and succeeded, knocking a home run down the third base line and handing the victory to American Fork 6-5.

The Cavemen win accompanied by Spanish Fork and Timpview victories created a jumbled mess as the Region 6 competition concluded today in a four-way tie for second place. American Fork, Provo, Spanish Fork and Timpview all head into the post season with identical 5-5 league records, and region officials are meeting today to figure out the tie-break and play-in situation. One of the four teams will be left out of the tournament hunt as Springville, at 9-1, is the only school assured of a bid.

"We just tried not to worry about the whole race picture," said American Fork coach Jared Ingersoll about preparations for Thursday's game. "We just knew it was a must-win situation."

The Cavemen didn't start well in their bid for victory and hopes for a playoff berth as Provo's lineup knocked around American Fork starting pitcher Mark Brown for three hits and three runs in the first inning behind singles from Bryce Ayoso and Clint Phillips and a double by Curtis Porter.

The Bulldogs added to their lead in the second with two walks and an RBI single dropped into short center by Austin Rowberry, and it appeared to be Provo's night.

"I guess we just trusted the talent we had out there. Mark's a senior, and he wanted it bad. He refocused and got the job done," added Ingersoll. "Our defense played great and kept us in it."

Provo only recorded two more hits the rest of the way on Brown's tough pitching, and American Fork took charge in the fifth. Provo starting pitcher Chris Wright scattered three hits over the first four innings, and appeared completely in charge, but then things fell apart in the fifth, and the Provo coaching staff brought in four relief pitchers across the next two innings.

The Cavemen used three singles and a walk in the fifth to send two runners across the plate and bring themselves to with two runs. Dan Mangum, Zack Mitani and Shay Conder all smacked hits around the field, with Conder recording both RBIs. The Provo defense came through with a double play to end the inning.

But the sixth was no better for the suddenly hapless Bulldogs as American Fork came out with two walks and three more singles to take the 5-4 lead.