Waterford comes from 7-5 deficit to win baseball crown

CEDAR CITY — In Waterford's final baseball game at the 1A level — and its coach thinks it could be the program's last game overall — the Ravens rallied to make sure they would finish as champions.

Waterford scored four runs in the top of the sixth to turn a 7-6 deficit to Panguitch into a 10-7 victory for the 1A baseball championship. The win snapped Panguitch's 31-game win streak and avenged a Waterford loss to the Bobcats in last year's title game.

One thing is certain: Waterford will not be able to defend its 1A championship next season. The Ravens will move up to 2A for the 2005-06 school year and will compete in Region 14.

Waterford coach Rand Rasmussen said he is disappointed the Ravens won't be able to defend their title, and it's possible Waterford might not be able to field a baseball team in 2A.

Teams at the 2A level play baseball in the spring. Waterford already has a respected lacrosse program — a sport not sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association — and a soccer team. Rasmussen said it's likely the school won't have enough players for all three sports.

Rasmussen and assistant Joe Sato also coach at Bingham, meaning they won't be able to coach at Waterford in the spring. Rasmussen is the Miners' girls basketball coach, and Sato is the baseball coach.

"I don't know why we couldn't at least take a look at it, because some kids are going to be left out in the dust," he said. "What do we do with the kids who don't play lacrosse or soccer? I would hope that maybe some of the other 1A schools would take a look at that and maybe support our situation."

Waterford starter Cliff Snyder struck out seven batters in seven innings for a complete-game victory. Snyder struggled early but shut out the Bobcats in the sixth and seventh innings to seal the win.

"Cliff threw 104 pitches on Monday," Rasmussen said. "To come back five days later and throw another 125, I would say that's pretty gutsy on his part."

Trailing 5-2 after the top of the third inning, the Bobcats scored five runs over the next two innings to take a 7-5 lead.

Junior right fielder Landon Eldridge singled home two runs in the bottom of the third for Panguitch. Rawley Burningham singled home another run in the bottom of the fourth, and Tyler Barney added two more on a bases-loaded single.

However, Waterford cut the lead to 7-6 in the top of the fifth and exploded for a big inning in the sixth.