LOGAN — Facing game after game after game of elimination, the St. George Sentinels have turned in nearly perfect performances to stay alive in the American Legion state baseball tournament in Cache Valley.
And now, they’ll play for the state championship.
Blazing through the loser’s bracket this week, the Sentinels have been stellar on defense and Thursday St. George got two more pitching gems in wins over Mt. Crest Orange and top-ranked Helper. The Sentinels beat Mt. Crest 4-2 and shutout previously undefeated helper 8-0.
Helper, sitting in the winner’s bracket, awaited the victor of the battle between SG and Mt. Crest late Thursday afternoon. It was a tense contest as Josh Howard kept the Orange team bats in check, allowing just one earned run.
But the game was tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the sixth when Jagun Leavitt produced some heroics. He ripped a double that plated a pair of runs and gave the Sentinels the cushion to advance to the championship.
Helper, which beat St. George earlier in the tournament, still had the upper hand. With no losses, the Helper team knew St. George would have to beat them twice.
As it turns out, Helper was no match for the Sentinels in the first game. The St. George team was never challenged in the 8-0 rout, setting up a winner-take-all game Friday at 6 p.m.
The Sentinels have played four straight games without committing a defensive error and may just be the favorite going into the ultimate game.
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