Emery splits doubleheader with Delta
Josie Luke
With Emery pitcher Bret Mecham nearly shutting out Delta as he pitched a complete game in the second game of a doubleheader against the Rabbits, the Spartan Baseball team split the two games they played on April 8 at Emery High.
The first game was a low scoring affair for both teams, with Delta hanging on to win 3-2, even after the Spartans rallied to score two runs in the seventh inning.
The rally for the Spartans began with Skyler Jorgensen reaching on an error by Delta. Bret Mecham then hit a single down the right field line to move Jorgensen to third base. Addison Collard reached base on Delta’s second error of the inning, bringing Jorgensen in to score.
Pitcher Gatlan Huntington then tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but popped it up. The Rabbit’s pitcher attempted to catch it, but it fell out of his mitt as he hit the ground, allowing Mecham to score. The run brought the Spartans within one point of the Rabbits, but they couldn’t manage any more, ending the game at 3-2.
Emery only managed three hits in the first game, but with all of their offense coming at the end, the Spartans were still hot to begin their second, scoring five runs in the second inning.
Tayler Tanner and Jason Giles smacked line drives off of the Delta pitcher in the first inning, showing they could connect, but the hits were right at the Rabbit defenders. In the second, Blake Mortensen drove a hit past the third baseman to get a single, and then Jordan Gee got out, but advanced Mortensen to second base on a hit to the Rabbit’s third baseman. Mortensen then stole third on an overthrow.
Mecham slammed an RBI double to right field, scoring the Spartan’s first run. Colby Snow hit the ball to the shortstop, but beat out the throw to reach first. Huntington then scored Mecham on a sac-fly to right and Jensen drew a walk, which brought Tanner to the plate, where he smashed a 2-run triple to left center.
Mecham helped his own cause in the third inning, initiating a double play, which kept Delta scoreless. The score stayed 5-0 until the seventh inning, when after an Emery error, the Rabbits scored their only run of the game, breaking up Mecham’s complete game shut out in which he struck out five.
The Spartans play their first rivalry games against Carbon this week; a doubleheader at home on April 15. The Spartans come into the game trailing the Dinos by only half of a game in their overall record.
‘Lights out’ pitching stretches Lady Spartans’ winning streak
Josie Luke
With “lights out” pitching from Leslee Lake, Emery’s softball team stretched their winning streak to four games and brought their overall record to 12 wins and three losses; winning both games of a doubleheader against Delta on April 8, with scores of 3-0 and 12-0.
Lake allowed just one hit in two games, throwing a no-hitter in the second game, which would have been a perfect game if not for an error in the first inning. The team only allowed four runners to reach base in the double-header.
Coach Beau Stoker was pleased with the team’s effort, particularly the effort of his pitcher. “I was happy with the way we swung the bats. We had a little bit of a lull in the first game, kind of got a little bit complacent, but other than that we came and swung the bats really well and played great defense. Leslee was lights out,” he reported.
In the first game, the Spartans scored all three of their points in the first inning. With two out, Chelsea Skinner reached base on walk, and then reached third on a double off Lake’s bat. Bailey Kay then smacked the second strait double, to score the two base runners. Norton then hit an RBI single, to bring in Kay.
The team didn’t allow Delta to reach base until the sixth inning, when a Delta player hit a single. The Rabbits managed two more base runners in the seventh, but never scored a run, with the shutout going to the Spartans.
The second game brought more of the same defensively, but Emery broke out offensively, scoring three runs in the first inning, two in the second and seven in the fifth to bring the game to a mercifully early end for Delta.
Every Spartan player racked up a hit in the game; with Jalee Jensen, Keera Allred and Lake each hitting three, Adriane Weihing and Candice Norton each with two, and Skinner, Kay, Whitney Allen and Markette Tanner each with one.
The big story of the game, though was Lake’s no-hitter. The Lady Spartans are poised to continue their dominance as they go against Carbon on April 15 with a doubleheader, and then a rematch with Delta on April 17.
Strong track team looking to run away with region crown
Rebecca Lofley
If you meet a member of this year’s Emery High School track and field team, you will learn a little of what they are all about. The saying, “track is mental, and we are all insane,” is printed boldly on their team sweatshirts, their attitudes, and consequently their track records.
The track team is doing extremely well as a result of individual efforts to excel. Coach Darrell Gardner explained that track differs from other sports in that in track the individual competes alone to contribute to the team score. This year there is an especially strong team of individuals. Levi Swasey holds the second fastest time in the state for the 110 meter hurdles. He has already qualified to compete at state track as have several others: Tyler Killpack in the 800 meter run; Zachary Clement with a javelin throw of 163 feet; Mckay Allred in the long jump and the hurdles; and Rhyker Allred along with Mark Defriez in the high jump.
The track team competes at a couple of meets each week. On April 8 they attended an exclusive meet at Carbon. At the meet, though it wasn’t included in the score, several of Emery’s runners and throwers excelled, finishing in first, second, and third. They attended another state qualifier at Juab on April 11, and are looking forward to others in the weeks to come.
With the number of individuals that are excelling this year, Coach Gardner has hopes that they might win region track as a team. For the past 15 years Emery has come in second place just behind Juan Diego. This year’s team might have enough audacity to break the record if they live up to their motto “get ‘r’ done.”
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