High school baseball: Top-ranked Dons blank American Fork in baseball

SPANISH FORK — The American Fork Cavemen, with only one loss heading into Tuesday's Region 4 baseball showdown with Spanish Fork, figured to give the undefeated and top-ranked Dons all they could handle.

But with Dons junior right-hander Adam Duke tossing a two-hit seven-strikeout gem, and the Cavemen dealing with the loss of their ace pitcher, possibly for the season, the expected battle between the two 5A powers turned into a fairly easy 10-0 five-inning rout for Spanish Fork.

"This region is so tough and every team is so good, that this was just one of those fluke games," Spanish Fork coach Jim "Shoe" Nelson said. "That wasn't the normal American Fork team. They normally play with a lot of emotion, but when we got up early they seemed to get down a little bit."

When the Dons (10-0, 3-0) and Cavemen (9-2, 0-1) meet for a rematch in American Fork on Thursday, Nelson expects a much closer game. American Fork coach Jarod Ingersoll is hopeful that Nelson is correct.

"We're sure going to find out," Ingersoll said.

One thing that is for sure, American Fork ace Josh Mooney won't pitch in Thursday's game either. The senior right-hander, whose been gaining the attention of pro scouts recently, was suspended indefinitely on Monday for an off-the-field incident that occurred over the weekend.

Not only did the Cavemen appear to be affected by the bad news, the Dons also showed no mercy. Spanish Fork pounded out 10 hits - four of which were of the extra-base variety - and put continual pressure on American Fork's defense by making contact at the plate and by using a little speed on the base paths.

"That's what we like to do. That's what this team is very good at," Nelson said.

After Adam Duke set down American Fork's first six hitters, Spanish Fork struck for four runs in the bottom of the second on RBI singles by Nate Binks and Braden Warren, and four errors by the Cavemen - three of which were throwing errors.

Greg Money's two-run triple in the fourth, his second three-bagger of the game, and a sacrifice fly by Warren gave Spanish Fork a 7-0 lead. An inning later the Dons ended it when Trevor Randolph doubled in a run and Brock Duke pushed home two with a double to the right-field gap.

In shutting out the Cavemen, Adam Duke didn't walk a batter, didn't allow a base runner past second, and gave up only two singles. One of those base runners was quickly erased on a sharply-turned 5-4-3 double play.

"He's pitched like that every game. He's been throwing very well for us," Nelson said.

E-MAIL: jimr@desnews.com