Emery’s magical run in the 2A Playoffs continued Friday afternoon after a dominating performance against Kanab. The Spartans scored eight runs in the first inning en route to a 19-1 win, earning a trip to play for the 2A Championship.
Carson Healy pitched a complete game three-hitter while giving up just the one run. Head coach Steven Gordon was impressed with his young pitcher’s performance.
“They’re (Kanab) a good team,” he said. “Once they start hitting they don’t stop.”
With seven-straight wins and four of those in the playoffs, the Spartans are playing their best ball at the right time. In the title game on Saturday, Gordon wants his team to continue its early production, which was showcased by its eight-run explosion in the first inning against Kanab.
“I told them to go knock them in the chin early,” he explained to his team after the game.
With confidence mounting in his young team, Gordon doesn’t want to mess too much with a great thing.
“We need to be confident at the plate and if you’re confident, you’re going to win” he said. “I told them, ‘don’t change a thing.'”
Emery awaits the winner of a Kanab/Parowan matchup from the loser’s bracket. Parowan blanked Beaver 5-0 in the Friday nightcap to earn a spot in the loser’s bracket final against Kanab. Because the Spartans have yet to lose, whatever team they face on Saturday would have to beat them twice to take the title.
The championship game will be streamed live on deseretnews.com at 11 a.m. Saturday morning.