ST. GEORGE — The baseball teams from Snow Canyon and Dixie are at the head of the pack as the Region 9 regular season schedule approaches the finish line.
Snow Canyon is a perfect 9-0 in region play. The Warriors have reeled off nine consecutive victories.
Dixie is right behind at 8-1, their only region loss coming at Desert Hills March 13. The Flyers have sizzled in 16 consecutive victories since then.
Dixie outscored its opponents by a combined 171-24 in those 16 games, an average margin of victory of 10.6-1.5.
Both teams have proven depth on the pitching mound and lineups full of big hitters.
Snow Canyon and Dixie will meet for their two Region 9 games April 23 and 26, a home-and-home series that will likely determine the region champion.
Here’s a glance at recent Region 9 action on the diamond.
Snow Canyon 3, Desert Hills 2
Tuesday at Desert Hills, the Warriors prevailed in a well-pitched duel that found the winning run score on a bases-loaded walk.
Each team had four hits in the game while Desert Hills had the same number of errors, four, in the setback.
Seniors Kyson Goates and Tank Kelly combined for Snow Canyon’s pitching duties.
Goates picked up the win in 5.1 innings of work, surrendering two runs and three hits. He walked three batters and struck out six.
Kelly preserved the save in his 1.2 innings on the hill, giving up one hit, walking one and striking out three Thunder batters.
Warriors skipper Reed Secrist credited both his pitchers with an “awesome” game.
“Kyson was on, throwing his stuff. I let him go there,” Secrist said. “As soon as he got a couple guys on, you know, we got some good arms in the pen like Tank so it’s hard to not let them come in the game and play.”
Desert Hills achieved a rare statistical anomaly, scoring two runs without any RBIs in the game. Two Thunder runners crossed the dish on the same play when they were able to score after a walked batter in the bottom of the first frame.
“Crazy play,” Secrist said, adding he’s never seen anything like it.
Snow Canyon answered with two runs in the top of the fourth inning and then the go-ahead score in the top of the fifth.
“We kept loading them up, putting guys on,” Secrist said. “Every inning we had someone on to do something. So that’s a little frustrating as a hitting guy, as I am. But that’s a good Desert Hills team so we’ll take that walked-in run.”
Kelly led the way at the plate for Snow Canyon, smacking a double, scoring a run and collecting two RBIs.
Crew Secrist had two hits in the win and Damon Ence delivered a base knock. Corbin Hafen had recorded an RBI for the victors.
For the Thunder, senior Cooper Cluff swatted two hits while Jace Filmore and Stoakli Tate both had one.
The same two teams rematch at Snow Canyon Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Dixie 8, Crimson Cliffs 2
In Washington Fields Tuesday night, Dixie senior hurlers Braxton Yates and Logan Leavitt combined to shut down the two-time defending 4A state champs.
Yates got the win after five innings of work, yielding two runs off of seven hits. He walked two and struck out six Mustangs.
Leavitt came on for the last two innings, striking out three while walking none.
The Flyers offense churned out 11 hits in the victory including a home run by junior Carter Turley, who finished with two hits, two RBIs and one run scored.
Senior Boston Vest was the big man at the plate for Dixie, crushing three hits and driving in four runs. All three hits were doubles and he scored twice.
Yates and Leavitt both helped their own cause, accounting for a combined two hits and two RBIs.
Kyler Skinner and Jason McArthur accounted for Crimson’s two RBIs.
The same two teams rematch at Dixie Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Pine View 1, Hurricane 0
Pine View’s Nash Schroeder and Hurricane’s John Raddatz put on a pitcher’s duel Tuesday night in Hurricane.
Both hurlers went 6.1 innings. Schroeder yielded four hits while Raddatz allowed two. Schroeder walked two and struck out 11. Raddatz walked one and K’d 10 Panthers.
Pine View scored the lone run in the top of the second inning. Carter Stubbs got aboard with a hit and scored the run.
Kyson Milne recorded Pine View’s only other hit in the win.
Brycen McCauley accounted for two Hurricane hits and Taylor Nolan and Parker Selby each had a hit for the Tigers.
The same two teams rematch at Pine View Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Photo Gallery
Desert Hills batter Andrew Wilson looks at a ball against Snow Canyon in a Region 9 baseball game, St. George, Utah, April 16, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Desert Hills pitcher Haigen Reed delivers against Snow Canyon in a Region 9 baseball game, St. George, Utah, April 16, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Snow Canyon pitcher Kyson Goates delivers against Desert Hills in a Region 9 baseball game, St. George, Utah, April 16, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Snow Canyon batter Corbin Hafen hits against Desert Hills in a Region 9 baseball game, St. George, Utah, April 16, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Snow Canyon batter Ryder Harrison looks at a ball against Desert Hills in a Region 9 baseball game, St. George, Utah, April 16, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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