ST. GEORGE — The St. George Sentinels are hoping they are ready for the American Legion state tournament, using a pair of wins over local school teams this week as a final tune-up for the tourney.
Tuesday, the Sentinels beat Canyon View 10-7 and Wednesday they got past Desert Hills 10-4, avenging a loss from earlier this season to the Thunder.
“The guys were pretty motivated,” said Sentinels coach Shane Johanson. “We pulled our pitching too ear;ly last time we played them and kind of blew that game, so we wanted to make up for it tonight.”
Motivation like that can go a long way in baseball and the Sentinels had jumped out to a 7-0 lead before starting pitcher Brooks Barney had even thrown a pitch. Barney ended up throwing three innings of no-hit ball, though his team did give up an unearned run. He left the mound with a 9-1 lead, with Carter Milne pitching the final four innings.
“It helps a lot when you start out with a 7-0 lead,” Barney said. “With a lead like that, you just go out there really relaxed and just have fun and execute pitches.”
Tyler Johnston led off the game with a double and also knocked home a pair of runs later in the inning with a sharp single. The first five batters reached and scored in the first inning for St. George. To Desert Hills’ credit, the Thunder battled back to within 9-4 before an insurance run put things away in the top of the seventh off a sacrifice fly by Sanchez.
Chad Nelson scored a pair of runs and did work on the mound for the Thunder.
The Sentinels, 19-8, now head to the state tourney, which begins Monday afternoon in Logan. They’ll play at 1 p.m., though their opponent still has yet to be determined.
“We have the same identical record as last year going into state,” Johanson said. “Last year I don’t know that we went in expecting much. We were just pleased that we had made the tournament. But when you get beat in the very last game, it leaves you with a taste in your mouth that we were going to come back and do things right.”
St. George took second last season, falling to helper in the “if necessary” game of the state championship.
Tyler Johnston at the plate for the Sentinels, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Kash Walker rounds third and scores for the Sentinels, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Tyler Johnston dives in to second base safely during the first inning, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Kush Walker puts a ball in play for the Sentinels, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Logan LaFemina slides in to third base safely as Trey Allred applies the tag, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Brooks Barney at the plate for the Sentinels, file photo from St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Chad Nelson pitches for the Thunder, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Trey Allred at the plate for the Thunder, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Brooks Barney on the mound for the Sentinels, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Chad Nelson takes a swing for the Thunder, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Daniel Arrey at the plate for the Thunder, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Thunder catcher Sam Rhoten fires a throw to first base, St. George Sentinels vs. Desert Hills Thunder, Baseball, St. George, Utah, July 22, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
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