Defensive-minded Colts rally by Miners, will face Knights in 5A baseball final


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OREM — Bingham pitcher Peyton Jones was turning in an incredible performance in the final game of the winner’s bracket Wednesday at the Class 5A state baseball tournament.

Cottonwood’s Hunter Cornia did one better, though.

With one cut, Cornia belted a two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh to give the Colts their first lead of the game, and Cottonwood held on for a 2-1 win over Bingham at Brent Brown Ballpark at Utah Valley University.

“I had been popping up all game, so my coach told me to stay on top and that’s all I wanted to do,” Cornia said. “I saw the fastball inside, so I got the barrel out and drove it.

“I was really happy.”

Cornia’s only hit of the day gave the Colts (21-8) all the firepower they needed. Jones struck out eight batters he faced during the four-hitter, but the Miners scored only one run, while leaving five runners stranded on the base paths, as Cottonwood’s defense went to work.

After trailing 1-0 for most of the game, Christopher Rowan slugged a solo home run in the sixth inning to tie the game. The senior punched his first and only hit of the game over the fence in left-center, and Cottonwood’s bats were back on track.

“One of our coaches told him that this has been his team for three years,” Cottonwood coach Jason Crawford said of Rowan. “This is the time to take advantage of it. He did that, tying it up and giving us a chance.

“Christopher has had huge hit after huge hit for us his whole career. He’s who you want up.”

Bingham (21-8) took no further damage from the inning, but winning pitcher Kyler Olsen seemed only to be getting started for the Colts.

“I figured if I could just keep the game close until the end, we’d be fine,” said Olsen, who pitched a complete-game effort. “I can’t be more happy with how these guys played behind me.

Cottonwood's Kyler Olsen throws a pitch during the 5A baseball semifinals against Bingham at Brent Brown Ballpark in Orem on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. Cottonwood won 2-1. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
Cottonwood's Kyler Olsen throws a pitch during the 5A baseball semifinals against Bingham at Brent Brown Ballpark in Orem on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. Cottonwood won 2-1. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

“I got more comfortable as the game went on. It was high-intensity and a lot of adrenaline in the beginning of the game. But it was easier to settle down as the game went on.”

The Miners had six hits but were held off the base paths for the final two innings after an initial burst.

“They played great,” said Crawford, whose team won its third-consecutive one-run game in the postseason. “We have a young infield, and a sophomore at short who plays a big part of what we have to play to be successful. He’s played great baseball.

“We have to make sure our defense is in order, and today they did a great job.”

Olsen finished with one walk and just two strikeouts, while scattering six hits, but the groundball pitcher also helped his team by turning one of two double plays on the afternoon.

“We’re prepared for double plays; we practice that all the time,” Cornia said. “We know we’re going to get those opportunities.

“We didn’t get that shaken up (early), but we were a little nervous. We knew we could come back. We had been doing it all tournament, though.”

Chad Wilson was 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead Bingham.

Lone Peak 18, Bingham 13

At UVU, Payton Freeman went 3-for-5 with four RBI, and the Knights hung six runs in the first and seventh innings Wednesday to advance to Friday’s state championship game.

Crew Robinson was 2-for-2 with an RBI for Lone Peak (24-6), which will face Cottonwood at 4:30 p.m. MDT and must win two-straight games to claim the title.

Simon Tait went 3-for-5 with six RBI and two runs scored to lead Bingham (21-9).

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