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OREM — After dropping Game 1 to American Fork on Friday night in a three-game series, Riverton faced an uphill battle in order to win a state title. But Riverton showed up determined for a different outcome on Saturday.
In Game 2, Riverton exploded for eight runs in the second inning and then added an additional seven runs in the fourth to force a 10-run mercy rule. American Fork had trouble pitching and walked 10 batters across the last four innings to add insult to injury.
The Cavemen battled back and brought it within a point by the top of the fourth inning, but their defense could not keep up and the Silverwolves increased their lead to 16-8 after a double from Kade Miller brought three runs home.
In the fifth inning, American Fork couldn't get anything going with its first three batters, who each got the team's outs for the inning. They then watched as Riverton continued to roll on the offensive side and built up a 10-point lead to end the game.
But the day was just getting started as the two teams had to play a third game for the decisive win.
Through two innings of the final game, the teams battled with tremendous fielding. But when the top of the third rolled around and Riverton's Sam Beck came out to the plate with bases loaded, the momentum shifted.
Beck hit a ground ball in the direction of the second baseman and sprinted toward the bag as American Fork attempted to throw him out at first. Beck dove for the base and was called safe as two of his teammates crossed the plate for the first runs of the game. The play caused the Riverton crowd at UCCU Ballpark to erupt in excitement.
The next batter was hit by a pitch, which caused the bases to be loaded again. And it was Zach Edwards, the designated hitter, who took advantage of the golden opportunity and launched one deep over the left fence for a grand slam. In a matter of minutes, the Silverwolves had built up a 6-0 lead with a 6A title in their grasp.
"I'm never going for (a grand slam)," Edwards said. "I was just hoping to put something in play and help my team out."
The Cavemen couldn't answer in the third inning, but they scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two runners on base, Dax Watts hit a ball to deep left field to bring home a runner. With their first run on the board, the Cavemen were back in it and they had momentum on their side.
Or so they thought.
In the very next at-bat, Riverton's Beck leaped in front of a line drive and snagged it out of the air. He effortlessly took two steps toward second and tagged the bag for out No. 2, and then Beck threw it to his first baseman to complete the triple play.
By that point, the game was all but over. While Riverton only scored two more runs in the remaining innings, they did enough to keep American Fork at bay. The seventh inning ended with a final score of 8-3 as Riverton's players collapsed on each other in celebration and hoisted the 6A championship trophy.
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"Who needs region?" Was the phrase that could be heard multiple times from the pack of Silverwolves, referencing the Bingham Miners winning the Region 3 title over Riverton. The odds were against Riverton when Saturday's first game started. After dropping Game 1, another loss who have meant it was all over for Riverton.
"The emphasis after last night's game was to not hang our heads," Edwards said. "We had to tell ourselves, 'We want it more than they do. They have been here twice, we have never been here before.'"
"Nobody has any idea of what the coaching staff and these players have gone through," Riverton head coach Jay Applegate added. It was Applegate's 22nd season, as coach and his first state title.
