On August 31, Head Coach Lance Peterson’s alma mater, Wayne Badgers came to town, badly beating the Buffalos behind junior Jake Batty’s blistering 14-0 shutout from five-innings on the mound. After a five-run second inning, their six-run fourth put the ‘no contest’ out of reach for the duration.
“Not much to say about the Wayne game; that was rough,” ruefully acknowledged Coach Pete. “They out-pitched us, out-hit us, out-fielded us, plus out-ran us, probably out-coached us. Just outclassed us!”
Then, following an Ivan Spencer, 9-0, shutout of their own against the visiting Pinnacle Panthers from Price on September 2, in which he allowed just five hits in seven-innings, striking out eight, while walking only one through 92 pitches, accompanying his 64 strikes. Seniors Hunter Barrick, MaCoy Harris and Bret Heaton each had two hits, scoring two runs apiece. Sophomore Boede Cox, also tallied twice from a single and a walk, as Spencer made the solo. All in error-free baseball!
“But today was a great comeback game,” said Coach Pete, constraining his joy. “We were a little worried. Cooper Chamberlain wasn’t with us today (Labor Day vacationing in Alaska), so we had to make a couple of adjustments, but our kids stepped up. Ivan Spencer put through a great game. MaCoy looks good behind the plate; he threw a couple of runners out early in the game that was important.
“So, it was good. We didn’t crush the ball. We were able to put up nine runs. Did what we had to. So, it was a good get-back-on- track win.”
The Buffalos are traveling on September 7, 8 and 10. First to Diamond Ranch, then to Bryce Valley and again to BV for their Sophomore Tournament. On Wednesday, September 14, they’ll be hosting the league-leading (7-1) Piute Thunderbirds, who share that distinction with Panguitch. Bryce Valley is in third place (6-2), Wayne in fourth (5-2), Valley is fifth (4-4), Pinnacle in sixth (2-6), Diamond Ranch Academy is seventh (1-7) and Green River at eighth (0-8).
