Prep baseball: Badgers take aim at another 1A state title

SPANISH FORK — With five 1A state baseball championships since 2002, the Wayne High School baseball team certainly doesn't have to take a back seat to anybody.

But the Badgers, the defending state champs, realize that one misstep along the way could prove critical when they begin the 2011 state tournament today at the Spanish Fork Complex.

After all, in 1A baseball, the state tourney is a single-elimination event, so one bad outing by your starting pitcher, a huge error in a key situation, or one day when all of your bats suddenly go silent could spell doom for each and every one of the eight teams involved.

Wayne, which won this year's Region 20 title with a 10-0 record and is 15-4 overall, opens defense of its state title today at 10 a.m. against Green River (12-7), the third-place finisher from Region 18.

"We're ready," Wayne coach Scott Ellett said Monday. "All three of our pitchers we're gonna work through the week looked good at practice today. Our defense looks good and our hitting looks good, too. Now we just need to put it all together on the field.

"Offensively, I think we're peeking right now. We're emotionally and mentally ready and confident."

Ellett's son, senior right-hander Randy Ellett, was last year's 1A MVP, and he's back to try and lead the Badgers to a second straight state title this week.

"His live-arm session went good today and his velocity was up," Coach Ellett said Monday. "It'd sure be nice to have a good, fresh arm for Saturday if we don't have to throw him before then.

"Our other two pitchers are good, too. We have a good three-pitcher rotation and all three options look real good for us right now.

"We need to win tomorrow," he said. "One of our players that was part of our three state championships in a row (2006-08) is in South America on a church mission now. His brother is an assistant coach for us now and he wrote to him and reminded us, 'Don't overlook anyone.' Our kids are constantly being told, 'Respect all, fear none.' "

Today's other quarterfinal matchups feature Region 18 champ Tabiona (14-3) vs. St. Joseph, Region 17 champion West Ridge Academy (12-4) vs. Bryce Valley, and Region 20 runner-up Panguitch (14-4) vs. Tintic (12-6) in perhaps the most promising game of the day at the Spanish Fork Complex.

Semifinals will be played Friday at Utah Valley University, which will also host the championship game on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Email: rhollis@desnews.com

1A baseball state tournament

Today's quarterfinals at Spanish Fork Complex

Wayne vs. Green River, 10 a.m.

Tabiona vs. St. Joseph, noon

West Ridge Academy vs. Bryce Valley, 2:30 p.m.

Panguitch vs. Tintic, 4:30 p.m.

Friday's semifinals at Utah Valley University

Wayne-Green River winner vs. Tabiona-St. Joseph winner, noon

West Ridge-Bryce Valley winner vs. Panguitch-Tintic winner, 2 p.m.

Saturday's finals at Utah Valley University

Championship game, Friday's semifinal winners, 11 a.m.