GVHS top of local teams at Cowboy Classic

KANAB — Gunnison Valley turned in the stronger weekend at the Kanab Cowboy Classic, winning three of four games, while Manti finished 2-2 in tournament play.

Gunnison Valley opened the tournament Thursday with a 10-0 loss to Beaver, as the Bulldogs were held without a hit and committed three errors. Beaver scored once in the first, added two more in the second and broke the game open with seven runs in the fifth.

The Bulldogs bounced back Friday with a 3-2 win over American Leadership Academy. Gunnison Valley managed just two hits, but made them count. B. Hendrickson drove in two runs, Dillon Dyreng scored once and singled, and Daxton Knudsen earned the win after pitching six innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits while striking out nine. Kason Brackett pitched the seventh inning and recorded a strikeout.

Gunnison Valley followed with an 11-7 win over Emery later Friday. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the first, four in the second, four more in the third and another in the fourth to build enough cushion to hold off Emery. Knudsen scored three runs and drove in one, Waylon Sorenson doubled twice and drove in two runs, Dillon Dyreng drove in two, and the Bulldogs drew 10 walks. Braxton Pickett earned the win in relief, striking out seven over three innings.

Gunnison Valley closed the tournament Saturday with an 18-2 win over Judge Memorial Catholic. The Bulldogs scored in every inning, including six runs in the second and seven in the fourth. Knudsen had one of the biggest games of the weekend, going 2 for 2 with three runs scored, four RBIs and a home run. Landry Edwards went 2 for 3 with a triple, Kason Brackett scored three runs, and the Bulldogs finished with 12 hits. Edwards got the win on the mound, allowing two runs, one earned, over 3 2/3 innings while striking out six.

Manti also opened the tournament strong. The Templars beat American Leadership Academy 13-1 on Thursday, breaking the game open with 10 runs in the third inning. Zach Blackham drove in four runs, Gregg Powell had two hits and two RBIs, Adam Andreason added two hits, and Kellen Lund earned the win after allowing one run over five innings.

Manti made it two straight Friday with an 18-10 win over Summit Academy. The Templars scored four runs in the first inning and nine in the second. Lund doubled and drove in two runs, Powell had two hits and an RBI, Stephen Robbins drove in two runs, and Manti drew 13 walks. Blackham earned the win, with Carter Keisel, Maddox Holder and Kyler Bailey also pitching.

The Templars dropped their final two games of the tournament. Beaver beat Manti 8-3 on Friday despite a double from Koy Johnson and two RBIs from Spencer Robbins. Carter Keisel and Russell Squire pitched for Manti.

Kanab then handed Manti a 4-1 loss on Saturday. Gregg Powell drove in Manti’s only run, Zach Blackham scored it, and Stephen Robbins and Spencer Robbins handled the pitching.

Over the four tournament games, Gunnison Valley scored 32 runs and allowed 21, while Manti scored 35 runs and allowed 23.