Piute Tops the Panthers

Pinnacle’s Jaxson Carlisle connects on a ball against Piute on September 14, 2018. (Photo Credit: Loren Miller)
The Pinnacle baseball team lost 14-10 on Friday to the Piute Thunderbirds at home.
Coming into the game both teams were looking to get a big win to move up in the 1A South standings. 
Pinnacle was two games behind Piute entering Friday while the Thunderbirds was a half game back of second place. 
Things got off to a rocky start for Pinnacle in the second inning when starting pitcher Jaxson Carlisle gave up four straight walks then a double to put Piute in a 3-0 lead with another run coming off another walk later in the inning.
 “That’s how baseball goes. Sometimes you get the bases loaded and afterwards I thought he  pulled through and pitched well,” said Pinnacle Head Coach Eric Hansen.
Pinnacle would bounce back in the bottom of the second and load the bases with no outs. 
The Panthers would go up 2-0 after a passed ball and a single by Landen Hardy to cut the lead to 4-2. Stetson Motte would then add a run off a single into right field.
With the score 4-4, Mikey Vigil would hit a single into center to give the Panthers the lead at 5-4. Pinnacle would end up scoring six runs in the third inning to take a 6-4 lead heading into the third.
“The kids knew what they need to do and they did it. We hit the ball very well today,” said Hansen.
The third inning would be different for Carlisle, he would not give up a hit or a run to protect the Panther’s lead.
During the fourth and fifth innings, the Panthers would lose their lead off of errors and well hit balls from Piute.
In addition to the two runs they would score in the fourth, Piute’s offense would explode in the fifth inning by scoring eight runs.
“That’s baseball, they hit base hits and there is nothing you can do about base hits,” said Hansen.
Piute would allow the Panthers a chance to get back into the game during the sixth inning. The Thunderbirds would allow the bases to get loaded again with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. 
Coming off the bench to pitch and bat in the sixth inning, Christian McLean would hit a two-RBI double to cut the Piute lead to 14-8.
Vigil would get a big hit again in the sixth inning and bring the Panthers within two after his base hit brought home two runs. 
In the top of the seventh the defense of Pinnacle would hold off the Thunderbirds and not allow a run to score, setting up a chance to win the game.
The defense had a few costly errors but mostly had a standup performance against Piute led by catcher Shayden Christensen who had multiple defensive plays from behind home plate.
“Shayden is awesome, it is that simple and I think we have one of the best catchers in the region. He is quick on his feet, doesn’t let balls pass him, and his throw down to first is awesome,” said Hansen.
Piute would close out the Panthers in the seventh inning and seal the win to move up to second place in the region standings.
Pinnacle still has a chance this upcoming week to get a few wins to get in the upper tier of the standings to avoid the play-in game during the state tournament.
“They got to bring it and that is what they need to do. They know what to do, they have played baseball their whole lives, so they know what to do. They are going to do everything in their power and I am going to do everything in my power so we can win. 
The Panthers will head to Bryce Valley on Wednesday and then play at home on Friday against the top ranked Valley High school.