GUNNISON—The North Sanpete baseball team slammed Millard, 16-6, in Gunnison before losing at Providence Hall in Herriman, 8-3, in the first week of the season.
Against Millard Tuesday, March 9, the Hawks scored 12 runs in the third inning. Cameron Smith had four runs batted in, while Gage Cox and Logan Black each had three. With North Sanpete ahead 10 runs after five innings, the Hawks took the game under the mercy rule.
Despite rain and a bit of snow, Hawk Coach Daniel Christensen called the Millard game “a good start.”
“Spring baseball is always hard here in Utah. Weather is cold and unpredictable,” Christensen said. “It’s always good to get the games in.”
Regarding scoring 12 runs in one inning, Christensen said, “It’s nice to score that many, but again, [Millard] made some errors and had some walks to help us.”
Since Smith and Cox are senior captains, Christensen said he expects good play from them each game.
Black, a sophomore, “has worked very hard at his position,” Christensen added. “He is a great young kid and will contribute big time for us this year.”
Against Providence Hall on Friday March 12, North Sanpete gave up five runs in the third inning.
Christensen said that usually in high school baseball, you will see groups of runs scored together. “It’s about momentum,” Christensen said. “Our guys need to learn how to play the game one out at a time.
He added, “Our pitchers didn’t throw strikes for us and (didn’t) put us in a position to win the game. We also didn’t hit the ball like we should have.”
Providence Hall’s pitcher, Mitchell Steen, threw well, “but nothing overpowering,” Christensen said. “He hit his spots and didn’t walk guys,” Christensen said. “That is what a pitcher should do.” On the offensive side, Steen had three RBIs.
Chistensen called the game a “disappointment” but said his team would learn from the contest and “be better from it.”
