Eagles fly past Saints in districts win

AFTON — The Eagles (16-6) put their offense on display Saturday at home against Mormon Trail (6-9), winning 11-1 in six innings to advance in district play.

Sophomore Paul McNeill went 3-4 at bat for two RBIs and a run to lead the Eagles batting. Terrian Islas and Ty Tallmon both went 2-3 at bat. Islas had two runs and one RBI while Tallmon had one run and two RBIs.

The Eagles wasted no time, scoring two runs in the first inning. Senior Austin Lack made it to first base on catcher interference when his bat hit the glove on his swing. He stole second base while McNeill was up to bat. McNeill smoked a double to send Lack home before Fisher Buffington followed up with a double of his own, sending McNeill in for another score.

East Union loaded the bases, only one out, but the Saints were able to get a double play at home and first to end the inning.

In the top of the second, senior Seth Hudson struck out three consecutive batters, all of them striking out looking. Hudson pitched four innings, striking out seven batters and allowing only one run. Lack came in to pitch two innings, throwing four strikeouts and not allowing any hits.

“It was a great team performance,” Eagles coach Nate McCollough said. “Seth Hudson and Austin Lack came out and shut them down, only giving them two hits and two walks total.”

All nine Eagles batters made it on base at some point, whether from a hit, walk or fielder’s choice. “One through nine produced in some way, either scoring a run, driving in a run or having productive outs,” McCollough said. “Aside from a couple miscues in the first inning, our defense played well.”

Senior Rason Grail scored in the third inning to take a 3-0 Eagles lead. The Saints’ only run came from the third inning when an infield grounder bounced over a defender, allowing a runner on second to score. But with runners on second and third, Hudson struck out a batter to strand the runners.

The bottom of the third saw the most action from the Eagles as they put up six runs. Islas started the inning with a single, followed by a double from eighth-grader Braden Kelley. Hudson ran on a third strike wild pitch, errors from the Saints letting Islas get home and Hudson make it around to second.

Sophomore Logan Findley was walked to load the bases for Tallmon who hit a two-run double, sending in Kelley and Islas. Hudson scored on a double from Grail, runners on second and third with no outs.

The Saints were finally able to log an out on a fly ball from Lack, but McNeill got them right back into it, hitting Tallmon home with a single. As McNeill was caught in a pickle trying to steal second, Grail took advantage of the distraction, stealing home.

The Eagles defense stayed perfect, going three up and three down the remaining three innings. In the sixth inning, they were able to find the two runs necessary to end the game. The final score came from Islas on a wild pitch.

“Overall, the best word that comes to mind for me is proud,” McCollough said. “I’m extremely proud of this team and what they’ve become. They’ve bought into the process, and everyone knows and accepts their role. It’s been awesome seeing everyone pulling the rope in the same direction. We’re having fun coming to the park every day, and want to keep it going as long as we can.”

The Eagles host Southwest Valley Tuesday for a spot in the District 16 Championship game.