4A state baseball: Beau Sampson’s pitching, Mustangs sparkling defense leads Crimson Cliffs to first title

ST. GEORGE — Beau Sampson pitched a gem of a game and his teammates played great defense behind him as the Crimson Cliffs Mustangs won the 4A state baseball championship Saturday afternoon at Bruce Hurst Field.

Sampson pitched six full innings to earn the win, walking two batters and striking out five. He yielded no runs and gave up just two hits to the powerful Snow Canyon lineup in the 6-0 shutout.

“Sitting outside, sitting low, so they don’t hit anything in the air,” Sampson told St. George News, describing his approach to the Warriors. “Just doing my thing.”

Snow Canyon had its best chances in the first two innings. In the top of the first, Logan Mendenhall reached on an error and Crew Secrist singled.

Sampson fielded a sacrifice bunt attempt, throwing out the lead runner at third base. Then Isaac Lyon hit a bouncer up the middle.

Crimson Cliffs and Snow Canyon in a 4A state baseball championship game, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Mustangs shortstop Petey Soto moved to his left, barehanded the ball, juggled it, then held on while he stepped on second base and threw to first to complete a spectacular unassisted double play.

“Oh man, nothing happened,” Soto said. “It’s just what I’m supposed to do as shortstop, be there for my pitcher, for my team. It’s just my job to make every play I can.”

Soto turned around and led off Crimson Cliffs’ bottom of the first with a solidly hit double down the left field line.

Warriors starting pitcher Talen Kelly got the next batter to fly out, then walked a batter and threw a strikeout.

With two outs, Ty Maynard hit a roller to right field for a single that scored two Mustangs. 

Crimson Cliffs tallied twice again when Tate Maynard and Logan West walked with the bases loaded and Sampson had all the runs he would need after Crimson Cliffs led 4-0 after one.

In the top of the second, Soto made two more outstanding plays and Mustangs catcher Brex Starley threw out a runner trying to steal second base.

“Our defense has been good all year,” Starley said. “We got Petey, we got Logan in center and Trey (Evans). We got everyone. We’re all a big team here, big defense and an offensive team.”

Evans stroked an RBI single in the bottom of the second to make the Mustangs lead 5-0.

Crimson Cliffs and Snow Canyon in a 4A state baseball championship game, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Sampson got a lot of help again in the top of the fourth. Jayger Baldwin made two sensational catches in foul territory to retire two Warriors, tracking down the fly balls and racing across right field. 

“I was looking back and forth at the wall and the ball,” Baldwin said, describing his first catch. “I thought maybe I’d slide into the wall with my feet. I just went all out and caught it.”

A strikeout by Sampson then retired the Snow Canyon side.

Tate Maynard drew a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth and Crimson Cliffs was ahead for good 6-0.

Aaron Morris took the mound in the seventh frame and closed the door on Snow Canyon. 

All the talk coming into the championship series was about the potent offenses on both teams, but Crimson Cliffs showed that the Mustangs can play defense too.

“We talked about that,” Crimson Cliffs coach Justin Abbott said. “That’s a good hitting team, but if we let them put the ball on the ground we’re going to make plays. We just had to throw strikes. Beau did a fantastic job and our defense did great. Everybody had a part in this and I’m just super proud of everybody.”

Bonds of brotherhood

Tate Maynard and Ty Maynard are blood brothers. So are Parker Andrus and Zach Andrus. “Family” was a word a lot of the Crimson Cliffs coaches and players were saying after the win.

“They love each other. They care about each other,” Abbott said, his voice trembling with emotion. “They had each other’s backs. Great group of kids, man, great group of kids. Young men. That’s what they turned into today.”

“It’s what we’ve been working for all season,” Starley said. “We’ve been waiting for this day since the first day we came. I mean, we love each other, we’re brothers. What else can you ask for than this?”

“Big family win,” Sampson said. “Everyone here is family. Good win.”

“I knew it was going to happen,” Soto said. “Just got to believe in ourselves. Played good, sticks were good. And we did it.”

“I love playing with these boys,” Baldwin said. “It feels so great. It’s unreal, man. I can’t even put it into words. I love these seniors. We did it for them.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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