American Fork stays alive

PROVO — The American Fork baseball team defeated Highland 10-7 in the 4A consolation bracket at BYU's Larry H. Miller Field on Monday to advance to the next round of the state playoffs.

The Cavemen answered their one-run output in Saturday's loss to Pleasant Grove by scoring in double digits in the win.

"We started hitting the ball well," said American Fork head coach Jared Ingersol. "It's time to put up or shut up. We just gotta play baseball."

Down 10-3 with one out in the seventh inning, the Rams quickly scored three runs and loaded the bases to bring the tying run to the plate. Ingersol then returned Taylor Mangum, who had previously pitched in the game, to the mound to register the final two outs and seal the victory for the Cavemen.

Mangum earned the win and the save in both trips to the hill, while Ingersol said he had previously used a pitcher twice in a single game on just one previous occasion.

"We just got the job done," Ingersol said. "I tried to save pitching but it backfired."

American Fork got off to a bit of a shaky start to begin the game, allowing the Rams three runs in the first inning off two Cavemen errors. After Highland loaded the bases without recording a hit, Alex Burgess drove in two runs with a single. Ram starting pitcher Dane Minch then drove in Burgess with a single of his own.

"We walk guys and don't play catch," Ingersol said. "We do have a great defensive team. I have confidence in them and I thought we played well."

American Fork's big inning also came as a result of poor defense. The Cavemen scored five runs in the third inning to take the lead after the Rams committed two errors. Tied at 3-3, Austin Haws drove in two runs with a single up the middle to give the Cavemen a 5-3 lead.

American Fork didn't look back from there.

The Cavemen's run in the fourth also came off a Ram error. Highland committed four errors in the game.

American Fork scored another three insurance runs in the sixth inning before Highland's attempted comeback. T.J. Spencer and Tyson Davis hit back-to-back RBI doubles to pad the Caveman lead.

While Highland's season is finished, American Fork moves on in the double-elimination tournament to face Spanish Fork today at 1:30 p.m., also at Miller Field.

"(Spanish Fork) is a good team," Ingersol said. "We just gotta play well to beat them."