Mangum pitches Cavemen to win

AMERICAN FORK — The American Fork baseball team outslugged and outplayed Spanish Fork on Thursday, beating the Dons 6-3 in a key Region 4 contest.

"It's huge anytime you get a victory over Spanish," Cavemen coach Jarod Ingersoll said. "We've got to keep ourselves on top and where we want to be, so it was really big.'"

The Cavemen (5-1) were led by pitcher Taylor Mangum, who not only silenced Spanish Fork's batters but also drove in a run on a hit to left field. Mangum pitched a complete game, striking out five and giving up only one earned run.

Addressing the difference between Tuesday's loss to the Dons (3-3) and Thursday's win, Ingersoll praised Mangum for his performance and leadership.

"He did a good job. He really stepped it up," Ingersoll said.

Ingersoll also attributed the win to American Fork's patience at the plate and the Cavemen's ability to put the ball in play.

American Fork led 5-3 heading into the fifth inning. That's when the Dons threatened.

But with runners on first and second, Mangum proved to be the thorn in Spanish Fork's side. Stepping off the rubber, Mangum spun and picked off the Dons' baserunner at second base. On the very next pitch, Mangum repeated the feat, this time at first base. The inning, and essentially the game, ended there.

"You can't give Spanish Fork breathing room because they'll take advantage of it," Ingersoll said. "They had life right there, and that helped us out tremendously. It got us out of a big jam. That was huge."

The Dons made a late run in the seventh as they put two runners in scoring position, but shortstop Jake Murphy made a spectacular Willie Mays-like, over-the-shoulder catch to end the threat.

"I kept looking for our outfielders because the ball's up in the air a long time, but Jake Murphy, he's just an athlete," Ingersoll said. "He just went and got the ball. That's a big-time catch. That was a big play."

With the win, American Fork remained atop Region 4. The loss kept Spanish Fork in a second-place tie with Timpanogos and Pleasant Grove.