MT. PLEASANT—The Hawks got an early chance to prove they can compete in region play, and they solidly passed the test.
North Sanpete baseball began region play with a pair of wins over Delta. Going 2-1 in a three-game series against the Rabbits, North Sanpete won the first game, 8-3, last Tuesday on road. They won the first game of a doubleheader at home on Friday, 6-5, before Delta finally got the upper hand in the final game, 9-4. The Hawks moved to 5-6 on the season and began region play at 2-1.
Senior Hunter Price was excellent at bat for the Hawks throughout each game. He hit a triple in the first game as he led the team with two RBI. Price also took his turn at the mound and was impressive, pitching eight strikeouts and allowing only two hits in six innings. North Sanpete broke a 0-0 tie in the third inning with a single run and led throughout the game.
In the second game, Price again delivered the heat from the plate as he cracked a home run to score two runs in a game where it was sorely needed. Senior Brayden Olsen pitched most of the game, allowing three hits and pitching four strikeouts. Delta got the first lead, 3-0 in the top of the second inning, but North Sanpete pulled ahead, 3-2, in the fourth. After another pair of runs by the Rabbits in the fifth, North Sanpete again peeled off three runs at the bottom of the sixth and held Delta scoreless in the seventh for the close win.
Delta managed to steal game three with strong pitching and fielding. The Hawks could barely manage to get on base, getting only two hits and combining as a team for a .083 game batting average.
North Sanpete has a week off. They’ll prepare for a three-game series with rival Manti next week, playing the first game at home on Tuesday.
