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Show N ^ ws Covering what matters most Spanish Fork FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2006 • A3 ^TRAILERS mttiome Mortgage David Davis / Spanish Fork News DEFENSE RULES: Coach Shoe called this defensive squad the best infield he has ever coached. Above, first baseman Colby Bird hauls in a throw on a pick-off attempt. \ FgSTLANE sft.ES AND SERVICE Dons down Cavemen in extra innings Lane Henderson Even with most of the breaks going the Cavemen way, the Dons rallied to pull out a thrilling 6-4 victory in the championship bracket. With the win, the Dons will be playing for state on the final day. Three seniors stood tall when the going got tough and one 15 year old put the Dons in a position to win. The one who can't drive yet is Brock Duke. The talented freshman was nothing short of fantastic as he twirled a masterful pitching gem. He held the powerful Cavemen hitless for four frames and struck out six. Nelson went with Duke because he has played in big games in youth programs and because he was throwing well to end the regular season. 'He plays with as much moxie and savvy as anyone we have. He is mentally tough. He also has a maturity level well beyond his years. He also'knows how to compete at any level," said Coach Nelson. The senior class also took center stage. The talented trio of Cory Grover, Kasey Carling and Aaron Binks came up huge. Carling was a one man wrecking crew at the top of the order. Cariing went 4-5 and scored three runs, including the biggest run of the game in the ninth inning. "My job is to get on base however I can whether it is a walk, get hit by a pitch, or by legging out an infield hit," Carling said. Grover and Binks also played key roles in the victory. Grover came on in relief of Duke in the seventh inning and kept the Cavemen off the Scoreboard. He also came up with a huge knock to drive in an insurance run in the top of the ninth. His wicked double down the line gave the Dons a much needed cushion. Binks was also the right man in the right spot as he brought home the game winning run one batter earlier with a triple off the left-center field wall. His rocket was tagged. "They hit in the middle of our order for a reason," added Nelson. "That's what you expect from three year starters. I thought we were just one hit away from busting this game open all day long but Hap wormed his way out of quite a few jams." The Hap that Shoe was referring to was Hap Holmsted, the A.F. hurler who battled the entire day. Spanish Fork out hit American Fork 14-5 and jumped out to an early 4-0 lead through four innings. Carling set the tone Crffe's House Ipf Trophies] 257 North Main for the game when he belted the first pitch for a single.'Jace Brinkerhoff then executed a perfect hit and run to put runners on the corners. On the throw to third the ball sailed into the dugout, giving Carling the dish at home. Once again in the third, it was Carling who got the ball rolling. Carling and Brinkerhoff duplicated what they did in the first with back-to-back hits. Binks added a walk tofillthe sacks. Grover just missed a grand slam with a deep sacrifice fly to score Carling and Rhett Nielsen made it 3-0 when he singled to left. In the fourth, Carling was up to his old tricks with his third straight single. He was erased on a fielder's choice but Binks found a hole with a Seeing Eye bloop RBI single to score Brinkerhoff. The score stood at 4-0 and the Dons appeared to be cruising into the title game. American Fork came back with three controversial runs in the fifth. To say the least, it was nothing short of being highly controversial. The sequence of blunders began when the Cavemen appeared to have hit into a routine double play but the umpire ruled that the Don first baseman bobbled the ball. Nelson stormed the field but to no avail. The very next batter hit a bouncer to second and the runner ran over Seth Spainhower. Nelson again argued, calling for interference. Then on the next pitch the blue crew wiped out another double play when Binks picked up short swinging bunt at the plate and started the double play with'a throw to second. But wait, for no reason the ball was whistled dead and the Don momentum was buried. "I thought they got all three calls wrong," said Nelson'. There probably isn't enough room in the paper to comment. .1 could be suspended for life. They were very poor calls." American Fork tied the game and could have won the game in the bottom of the seventh had it not been for a sensational catch from Nielsen in left. Blinded by the sun, Nielsen charged a sinking line drive and made the shoe string catch to finally end the rally. Spanish Fork has dedicated their title run to the memory of one of their own. They are trying to claim the title for Zach Barber, a former teammate who played left field. Barber was killed in an automobile accident prior to last season. The Dons have found different ways to keep his memory alive. "We have things written on our gloves or in our hats," said Grover. "We talk about him and we want to win it for him." . Industrial Park Drivg* c David J EsplinOD £&North 100 East!** Cruise and Travel M68 East Center <* Dr. Mithael AtWpod y? DDS, PC ^ jr Aaron Atwoogj |