High school baseball: Snow Canyon stuns Spanish Fork

KEARNS — Can-yon believe it?

Yes, Spanish Fork is beatable after all.

The Dons, who entered the 4A boys' baseball tournament ranked No. 3 in the Baseball America/National High School Baseball Coaches Association Top 25, had no answer for Snow Canyon.

The Warriors scored seven runs in the second and third innings to shock Spanish Fork with the 7-2 win at Kearns High School on Wednesday to remain in the winner's bracket.

"It's just another game, no big deal," said Snow Canyon pitcher Michael Jensen. "They're just a team and anyone can play with them. You can't be intimidated by them.

"We knew they were good, and that's why we think everyone loses. We just came in (and knew) we can't be intimidated. We knew we could play with them — we're just as good."

Not only did the Warriors beat one of the best teams in the nation, they did it facing perhaps the best pitcher in the state in Kayden Porter, who came in with a 8-0 record.

"I know a little bit about Kayden because I've seen him throw in the fall and summer, and he does a great job," said Snow Canyon coach Reed Secrest. "The biggest thing was to get our foot down and attack the fastball. A couple of our guys did that, and they got us a big lead. Obviously, him standing out on that big old dirt pile is a pretty intimidating thing."

In the bottom of the second after two consecutive singles, Snow Canyon's Elliot Knox connected with a blazing fastball and sent it screaming over the left field wall for an early 3-0 lead.

Two batters later, Austin Ovard slapped an RBI groundout to bring home the fourth run of the inning.

That would be enough for Jensen to settle down into a groove with his fastball, curve and change-up. Ironically, he wasn't even supposed to pitch against the Dons.

"We just really wanted to start (Austin) Ovard against them but the way things went last week with the rain and stuff Jensen got the call," said Secrest. "Somebody asked me, 'since we were delayed do you go with Ovard?' I said 'I already told Jensen he's our guy.' I decided to leave him there and obviously it worked out for the best."

The following inning the Warriors kept on hitting. After an opening walk, Reggie Gates cracked another homer to chase Porter and push the lead to 6-0.

The Dons eventually made things interesting with RBIs by Andy Perkins in the fourth and fifth innings. On multiple occasions Spanish Fork had runners in scoring position but was unable to bring them home.

"I still think they're going to come right back up in that losers bracket and still they're the team to beat. I think maybe they overlooked us; I'm not sure. I don't think they did," said Secrest. "It says a lot about these guys, and they've been doing it all year long. I'm just excited that we got the runs early in the game and that we were able to relax do some of the things that we do."

email: tphibbs@desnews.com