KEARNS — Since the American Legion state tournament began last week, it's been evident that the Spartans and Taylorsville have been on a collision course to play for the championship.

The Spartans held up their end of the bargain, downing Blacksmith Fork 11-1 in seven innings on Friday night to advance to the final day of the tournament. The Spartans, composed mostly of graduated players from Murray High, need to defeat Taylorsville just once today to claim the state championship.

The Warriors, who lost to the Spartans 2-1 on Tuesday, need to defeat the Spartans twice today to earn the state title. The first scheduled game is at Oquirrh Park at 2 p.m.

"Bring it," said the Spartans' Nate Davis. "I knew we'd see them again. We're the two best teams in the tournament. That's how it should be."

Davis' pitching ensured that the two best — and most veteran — teams would clash for the state title today.

After a first inning in which he had a hard time finding a tight strike zone, Davis kept the Trappers off the scoreboard and killed all potential rallies. Davis walked in a run in the first inning, but he regrouped to record 11 strikeouts. He threw a three-hitter with just one hit coming after the first inning.

"Nate threw great," said Spartans coach Jackson Babcock. "He went right after them. Once through the order, he knew he could overpower most of them."

Davis needed his power to get out of a couple of jams, which he was in because of walks and errors. He was able to force the Trappers to strand a small village of runners — 13 to be exact — because of his fastball and timely defense.

"It was tough," Davis said. "The zone was small. I had to basically tube it for him (the umpire). He was squeezing both guys (Davis and Blacksmith Fork pitcher Tyler Christensen) that's for sure."

The Spartans got to Christensen early, as Austin Bytheway, Preston Butcher and Chace Harmon recorded consecutive RBI singles to build a 3-1 lead in the second. The Spartans blew the game open in the fourth when Stephon Aloi hit an RBI double, and John Gardner blasted a two-run homer to put them up 7-1.

Chase Rezac started a rally in the sixth to help the Spartans end the scheduled nine-inning contest early. He hit a solo home run, while Davis and Gehret Heward each hit RBI singles.

"We had guys who are not everyday players come up big," Babcock said. "They all hit the ball hard. When we're on the same page, we've got a good lineup."

Blacksmith Fork, a team of younger players from Mountain Crest High, had a great showing in the state tournament, finishing in third place.

The Spartans, meanwhile, hope to duplicate their success from Tuesday and defeat Taylorsville in a more meaningful game today.

"Our whole goal was to get here," Babcock said. "We know they'll (the Warriors) be fired up and rightfully so. We'll give them everything we got."

If you go...

At Oquirrh Park, Kearns

Spartans vs. Taylorsville, 2 p.m.

Note: If Taylorsville wins, a second game will be played at 5 p.m.

American Legion state tournament

Today's games

At Oquirrh Park, Kearns

Spartans vs. Taylorsville, 2 p.m.

Note: If Taylorsville wins, a second game will be played at 5 p.m.

e-mail: aaragon@desnews.com