| Mike Smith has not only helped the Dinos from the mound this season, but has also caused some damage from the plate |
The regular season is over and Carbon is undisputably on top.
No Region 8 team was able to dethrone the Dinos this season and Carbon enters the first round state playoffs with a flawless, 8-0 region record.
Delta was the last Region 8 foe to fall under the heavy weight of Carbon’s solid offense, defense and pitching.
Lefty Mike Smith pitched a one-hitter for the Dinos as they cruised to a 5-0 win over the Rabbits.
According to coach Lane Herrick, the strong wind that had held up hits all day worked in Delta’s favor to break up Smith’s perfect game.
The only Delta hit was a weak blooper that managed to drop.
Smith ended the day with 13 strikeouts.
The wind was not quite so kind to Carbon’s Chris Hatch, though. In the fifth, what should have been a very long three run homer got caught in the wind and nabbed by a Delta outfielder.
The hit was deep enough to score two Dinos.
Now as first seed, Carbon will host the fourth-seeded Tooele Buffaloes for the opening game of the tournament on Saturday, May 8.
The 8-14 Buffaloes ended the regular season with three wins to put themselves into a tie with Morgan.
Tooele then beat Morgan 14-6 in a tie-breaker on Tuesday to advance to the 3A tournament and have a shot at the Dinos.
The Tooele-Carbon game will begin at 10 a.m. at the Carbon High baseball field.
Uintah and Snow Canyon will also play at the same time on the College of Eastern Utah field.
At 2 p.m., losers will pair with losers and winners will face winners.
The Carbon 2 p.m. game will remain at the Carbon High field regardless of the 10 a.m. game outcome.
Teams with one loss or less will advance to the state tournament at Spanish Fork on May 13-15.
According to Herrick, fans can likely expect five teams to be slugging it out for a state title.
Watch for Carbon to be a top contender, along with Bear River, Wasatch, Cedar City and Dixie.
For more information on the 3A tournament or for a copy of the tournament brackets, visit the Utah High School Activities Association website at www.uhsaa.org.