| With a opposing team member on his way home, Chase Julian heads in to get him out during the Dinos’ 15-8 victory over Union. |
In a doubleheader in Price, Carbon, Union, Cedar and Grantsville all played for the first round games in the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs turned out great for the Dinos, who won both games against Cedar (10-0), and Union (15-8).
Carbon’s first round playoff game was against Cedar City, while Grantsville played Union at the CEU field. The winners of both games would go on to play later that day at the Carbon field and the losers would play each other at the CEU field.
Cedar played a hard game against the Dinos, but were quickly dominated by Carbon who had an eight run lead by the end of the fifth inning.
Carbon scored early in the first inning, but didn’t score again until the fifth inning where they made an amazing eight runs, bringing the score to 9-0, Carbon in the lead.
The Dinos followed through and made another run in the sixth inning, ending the game with a 10-0 win for Carbon.
Carbon dominated the game with 12 hits and only two errors, while Cedar City had only three hits and three errors.
Joe Via, Tyler Nelson, Mike Zaccaria and Adam Martinez all scored doubles for Carbon.
With a win against Cedar City, Carbon went on to play Union in their quarter final game. Union won their first game against Grantsville at the CEU field, 10-8, giving them the chance to take on the Dinos. Grantsville went on to dominate the struggling Cedar City in a consolation game with a win of 8-5 for Grantsville.
Carbon had a one run lead in the first inning. Union scored a run in the top of the second bringing them to a tie at 1-1.
At the bottom of the second, Zaccaria was hit with the ball, giving him a free run to first base. With two down at the bottom of the second, Camron Oliver brought home Zaccaria with a great hit, and scored the only run of the second inning, bringing the score to 2-1, Carbon.
At the top of the third, Chase Julian was brought in to replace Martinez as pitcher. Union scored four runs in the third, taking the lead 5-2.
Nick Nielson came out first in the bottom of the third and took first after Unions pitcher threw him four balls. Via came out next and also took base on balls. Chris Hatch came out and had three strikes giving Carbon the first out of the inning.
After a wild pitch from the Union pitcher, two Carbon runners advanced. With one down, Zaccaria received a walk on first base which loaded up the bases. Nelson scored with a great hit, but Nielson was taken out.
Martinez received a base on balls and bases were loaded once again.
Oliver came up and also received a base on balls and the Union pitcher was switched out.
Sandoval came out with an incredible hit and received a grand slam bringing home all runners on base. The third inning ended Carbon ahead 8-5.
At the top of the fourth with two down, Union scored their only run of the inning. The third out followed soon after with a catch by Nelson.
Via came up to bat first at the bottom of the fourth inning and scored a double with a sturdy hit, then being switched out with a speed up runner.
Following Via, Hatch also received a double, bringing home a runner and taking Carbons’ lead to 9-6. Three more runners were brought home in the fourth, ending the inning at 12-6, Carbon in the lead.
At the top of the fifth inning, Union received no runs, keeping Carbon in the lead.
Nelson took first after being hit with the ball.
Via received a base hit bringing Nelson to second.
With two down, Zaccaria made a base hit, bringing home two runners and bringing the score to 14-6, Carbon still in the lead.
The Cougars scored two runs at the top of the sixth, but still didn’t bring themselves closer to Carbon.
Carbon scored just one run by the end of the sixth inning, but still had a stiff lead on Union, 15-8.
In their last chance, Union still couldn’t score in their uneventful seventh inning, ending the game with a 15-8 win for the Dinos.
Union finished the season after this loss with a 11-9 record, while the Dinos will go on to play in the semifinals on Thursday, May 12. Carbon will be going up against Wasatch for the upcoming game at Dixie College in St. George.