High school baseball: Grand slam powers Alta past Jordan

SANDY — Alta shortstop Kavin Keyes opened the Region 4 season in grand style.

Keyes blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to lift the Hawks to a 9-7 win over Jordan in the Region 4 opener for both teams on Tuesday afternoon. Third-ranked Alta improved to 6-0 overall with the win, while No. 4 Jordan fell to 4-1.

With the Hawks trailing 6-5 in the sixth, Keyes ripped an inside fastball over the fence in right-center at Alta High. It was the first time the Hawks led in the game, and the grand slam gave Alta enough of a cushion to hold off the Beetdiggers.

"I was just looking for a hit," Keyes said. "I was just looking to drive in a run, get us tied going into that last inning, do whatever we needed to get us a win. It felt really good. It was a nice inning, nice time to do it."

Keyes' slam came with two outs in the sixth, and he got some help from both teams to set up his heroics.

Mitch Winter, who threw 21?3 innings and was the game's winning pitcher, singled to start Alta's rally in the sixth. Christian Snuffer reached base on a costly error by Jordan, and Dakota Walbeck walked to load the bases. Jordan pitcher Kelton Caldwell then struck out Alta's Beau Kallas, bringing Keyes to the plate in a crucial situation.

"We just had the right man in the right spot with that grand slam," said Alta coach Barry Harrington. "He's a fun hitter — way fun."

Keyes wasn't finished.

After Jordan's Kyle Andersen doubled off Winter to lead off the seventh, Keyes was brought in to close the game. He allowed a run, but he also got a groundout, a flyout and his defense took advantage of a Jordan baserunning mistake to save the victory.

Keyes is known more for being one of the state's top shortstops, not a pitcher. He admits he has some basic stuff in his pitching arsenal, but it's effective and he looks to be Alta's closer this season.

"I get to just come in for an inning to two, and try and get the save for the team," Keyes said.

Keyes had two hits and scored three runs to lead the Hawks. Bobby Pappin had two RBI singles, Walbeck had two singles and scored two runs, and Josh Tracy drove in a run.