Mustangs continue sweeping up wins

LOGAN -- An 18-0 record is the obvious reason why the Mountain Crest Mustangs are ranked No. 1 in the Class 4A baseball rankings.

Timely hitting and solid pitching are what have the Mustangs at the top.

Once again, the Mustangs got both in an 8-3 and 14-0 Region 4 sweep over Logan Wednesday.

"I think we're getting better," Mountain Crest coach Steve Hansen said. "We swung the bats well like we haven't done in the past, so hopefully we're getting better."

Seven of Mountain Crest's nine starters Wednesday were hitting over .300 and the pitching staff of Ryan Zimmerman, Casey Jorgensen and Nick Eliason are stingy, allowing just over one earned run a game.

As a team, the Mustangs lead the classification in runs scored per game (7.8) and fewest runs allowed (1.9).

The Mustangs were ranked in the top five when the year began, but they have slowly crept up the rankings when teams above them lost. They took over the No. 1 ranking nearly a month ago, and they are still the only unbeaten team in the state.

"We really haven't talked about it (the winning streak)," Hansen said. "We get ready for the next game and hopefully we get that one. We just keep on going."

Jorgensen earned the victory in Game 1 by allowing just three hits.

"Casey threw great," Hansen said. "They scored two runs because he walked guys, but he's thrown great all year."

Before giving way to Zimmerman with one out in the sixth, Jorgensen had recorded three strikeouts and walked four.

Zimmerman earned the save with a scoreless seventh, despite giving up a hit, a walk and hitting a batter. He earned the win in Game 2 by allowing one hit and striking out 11. He walked just two.

In the opener, the Mustangs (18-0, 11-0) trailed 2-1, but broke the game open with four runs in the fourth inning -- all coming with two outs.

Kyle Hamilton and Carl Blad drove in runs with singles and Luke Lofthouse drove in a pair with a single. He later launched a solo homer in the sixth.

Mountain Crest scored a pair of insurance runs in the seventh.

Logan scored its only other run in the sixth.

Brady Pond led the Mustangs with three hits (two doubles) and Hamilton and Lofthouse had two hits each.

Riley Olsen, Dallas Larsen and Braden Brown had Logan's hits.

In Game 2, the Mustangs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back. They scored four more in the second and two more in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

Pond had a pair of doubles, giving him four for the day.

The two teams will complete the three-game series today at 3:30 p.m. with a single game at Mountain Crest in Hyrum.

In other prep games on Wednesday:

BASEBALL

REGION 2

HILLCREST 4, ALTA 2: Brian Griego had two hits and two RBIs, including a home run, to help lift the Huskies to the Region 2 win.

WEST JORDAN 8, JORDAN 2: Tyson Christensen went 3-for-4 including a bases-loaded double in the seventh inning to break the game open. West Jordan is 4-6 in Region 2 play.

BRIGHTON 7, COPPER HILLS 4: The Bengals got a home run from Blake Simkins and a 2-for-2 performance at the plate by Bubba Grant to get the Region 2 win.

BINGHAM 2, RIVERTON 0: The Miners shut out the Silverwolves to move to 9-2 and stay atop the Region 2 standings.

REGION 4

MOUNTAIN CREST 8, LOGAN 3: In game one of a double header, the Mustangs moved to 10-0 on the season in Region 4 play with a solid win over county-rival Logan.

MOUNTAIN CREST 14, LOGAN 0: In game two of a double header, Mountain Crest proved to be the better team as it posted 14 hits and Ryan Zimmerman tossed a one-hitter.

BONNEVILLE 10, BOX ELDER 2: Zac Davis was 3-for-4 with two doubles as the Lakers topped the Bees in the first game of a doubleheader.

BONNEVILLE 7, BOX ELDER 5: Adam Huthcinson had a two-RBI single that gave the Lakers the lead for good as they got the Region 4 win over the Bees.

SKY VIEW 10, ROY 0: In the first game of a double header, the Bobcats got a solid performance from pitcher Ryan Doyle as he struck out eight and gave up two hits.

SKY VIEW 10, ROY 0: In the second game of a double header, the Bobcats cruised to the Region 4 win on the bat of Brennen Reese, who posted a double and a triple. Chandler Robinson got the win on the mound as he recorded eight strikeouts.

REGION 5

CYPRUS 12, OLYMPUS 1: The Pirates cruised to another Region 5 win thanks to several standout performances: Jon Tate went 3-for-3, Reggie Fisher was 2-for-2 and Kyle Huntsman also went 2-for-2 while also earning the win.

WEST 6, BOUNTIFUL 5: Pete Babalis was 2-for-3 and had the game- winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Panthers topped the Braves.

MURRAY 12, HIGHLAND 2: Jordan Bowden was 3-for-3 with two RBIs as the Tigers beat the Rams in Region 5 play.

EAST 5, WOODS CROSS 2: Alex Theodore went 2-for-3 with two triples to lead the Leopards over the Wildcats.

REGION 9

CANYON VIEW 2, HURRICANE 1: Brandon Thorpe pitched a one-run complete game for the victory.

REGION 12

RICHFIELD 14, MANTI 4: Chris Damron pitched well enough for the victory and went 3-for-4 at the plate with a grand slam.

REGION 14

NORTH SUMMIT 19, SOUTH SUMMIT 0: Andy Carlson went 2-for-4 with a double and home run and pitched a one-hit shutout to earn the victory.

NONREGION

PARK CITY 8, CARBON 5: Zach Borla went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Jason Morgan was 3-for-4 and also had two RBIs for the Miners in their non-region win over the Dinos.

SOFTBALL

REGION 2

JORDAN 4, ALTA 3: Belinda Cardenas had two hits and two RBIs, and Norm Jackson had two doubles and scored two runs as the Beetdiggers stayed perfect in region play with their win over the Hawks.

REGION 5

OLYMPUS 7, CYPRUS 0: Rachel Midgley went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs to help lift the Titans to the win. Amber Read also had a solid game, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

REGION 6

PAYSON 5, PROVO 2: Payson moved to 6-0 in region play with another solid win over Provo. Marvin pitched a two-hitter and recorded 12 strikeouts in the Lions' win.

SPANISH FORK 16, AMERICAN FORK 0: Spanish Fork moved to 6-1 in region play with a lopsided win over American Fork.

REGION 8

NORTH SANPETE 10, DELTA 2: North Sanpete had the bats smoking as it posted the win over Delta. Aftan Lindsay went 2-for-3 with a homer and triple while teammate Casey Jacobson went 3-for-4 in the win.

LEHI 10, CARBON 0: The Pioneers blazed past the Dinos for the region win thanks to a solid team effort.

REGION 9

CANYON VIEW 6, HURRICANE 3: Rachel Gentry went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs to help Canyon View top Hurricane. The win moved CVHS to 6-3 in region play.

REGION 11

BEAR RIVER 5, MORGAN 0: Bear River had three batters go 2-for-4 in the win. The Bears are 6-3 and 10-7 on the year.

REGION 14

JUAN DIEGO 15, ROWLAND HALL 0: Juan Diego cleaned house on Rowland Hall to earn the win. Nicole Reather got the no-hitter and went 3- for-3 at the plate. Teammate Leane Welly also went 2-for-2 with three RBIs.

JUAB 13, DUCHESNE 2: Hali Nielsen led the Wasps to the victory over the Eagles with a solid showing at the plate that included a double and a home run.

SOCCER

REGION 14

WATERFORD 3, JUAN DIEGO 2: Taylor Hyde scored twice for the Ravens as they kept their region record perfect with a win over the Soaring Eagle.

1A PLAYOFFS

LAYTON CHRISTIAN 3, WENDOVER 2: Layton Christian used scores by Kevin Herring, Phil Herring and Jerrell Steward to pull off an upset over Wendover in the first round of the Region 17 tournament.

SALT LAKE LUTHERAN 3, DUGWAY 1: In the first round of the Region 17 tournament, Salt Lake Lutheran got goals from Doug Hart, Don Huynh and Sebastian L. to advance to the next round.

NONREGION

TOOELE 3, ROWLAND HALL 0: Benson Palmer netted two first-half goals, and Mark Sibley finished the scoring as the Buffaloes picked up the victory. Tooele goal keeper Hayden Farley got the shutout in the net.

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