High school baseball: Panguitch unloads early to advance to 1A final

OREM — Sometimes, the first inning is all that matters.

At least that's the way the Panguitch Bobcats have approached the 1A state tournament, utilizing two monumental first innings to roll past the competition in the first two rounds of the state playoffs. The latest pounding was an 11-1 rout of Intermountain Christian in the semifinals on Friday afternoon.

Heading into the bottom of the first inning already down 1-0, Panguitch coach Clint Barney wasn't sure what to expect after witnessing a number of slow starts from his team throughout the season. A 10-run show, half of which crossed the plate before ICS was even able to get an out, changed Barney's perspective.

"We've had some slow starts. The first inning was really a key for us," Barney said. "We had good focus. We were patient and got the count that we wanted."

Brooks Leach sparked the Bobcats with a leadoff double, then Dexter Humphreys, Cameron Fawson and Riley Miller followed with consecutive singles. The Panguitch offense blasted eight hits and went through the lineup a time and a half before the inning was over.

From that point on, the Bobcats were unable to find the same offensive spark.

"Over the next three innings, we deflated a little," Barney said. "We were not as patient, and we had to take his (ICS pitch Broc Christiansen's) pitch."

Leach, however, wasn't done, and he blasted a solo, in-the-park home run to right-center field to bump the score to 11-1 in the third inning.

Pitcher Riley Miller earned the complete-game shutout for the Bobcats, striking out four batters and allowing just two hits in the shortened, five-inning game.

"Miller went out and did what he had to do today. He did a good job," Barney said.

Humphreys was 2-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs for the Bobcats. The center fielder is batting .833 in the state tournament with five RBIs in the two games. Leach, Fawson and Miller were each 2-for-3 against the Lions, combining for four RBIs.

Panguitch will now face off with Region 20 rival Piute for the fifth time of the season in the championship game today at 11 a.m. at Utah Valley University. The Thunderbirds have defeated the Bobcats three times this season by a total of five runs. In the only matchup that Panguitch was victorious, the Bobcats shocked Piute with a 16-1 win.

"We've got to be disciplined enough to be patient at the plate," Barney said, looking forward to the rematch. "It will be a battle."

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