This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Pine View's journey to the state Class 3A baseball championship last season was chaotic, exciting and, in some regards, downright peculiar.
The Panthers won their first title since the 2002-03 season after nearly squandering an eight-run cushion in the fifth inning against Cedar in the final game. Hoisting the championship was the pinnacle of a 180-degree reversal in which they recovered from a 3-7 start by winning 16 of the next 17 games.
As the season unfolded, the Pine View players entrusted their faith in a lucky guinea pig known as "Darryl from Richfield." They were a kooky bunch of kids, with vibrant personalities and confidence, who were written off at the beginning of the season yet accomplished the ultimate goal.
This season has been another story. The Panthers started the season as the No. 1-ranked program in the classification and never relinquishing a spot in the top five the entire season. They captured the outright Region 9 championship for the second consecutive season after a two-game sweep of Desert Hills in the final series of the year.
Many of the Panthers' main contributors from last season are back, with Oregon State commit Dakota Donovan, who was named to the All-Tribune team as one of the top pitchers in the state last year, Brooks Barney and Logan Lafemina as the headliners.
However, with the tournament moving from St. George to Kearns this season, Pine View — which finished fourth in the final installment of the spring sports power rankings before winning its last three games — has a difficult obstacle to retain the crown.
Here is a breakdown on what to expect from every qualifying team for the state tournament.
Region 9 • Top-seeded Pine View won the region, which many consider to be the toughest in the classification. The Panthers, who are 10-2 against 3A competition, have won nine of the past 11 games. The Thunder, who won the tiebreaker against Dixie after sweeping the Flyers, finished below .500 overall, but eight of their 12 losses occurred against out-of-state or higher-enrollment programs. Dixie, which spent time ranked No. 1 in 3A before a stretch where it lost four of six games, has illustrated its ability to play with elite programs, evident by the win against Pine View in region play. Cedar started the season ranked in the top five, but struggled with consistency. If Cedar can upset Juan Diego, its pathway for a run to the semifinals is favorable.
Region 10 • Stansbury, similar to Pine View, also controlled its own region by two games. Mitch McIntrye highlights a deep lineup for the Stallions. Second-seeded Park City won its series 2-1 against Stansbury, however. The Miners enter the postseason as winners of five of six games, but the one setback was against Union, which earned the final spot in the region despite being nine games under .500. The third seed, Grantsville, which won the state championship in 2014, is still equipped with enough talent to potentially make noise.
Region 11 • Top-ranked and top-seeded Juan Diego has the hardest first-round pairing of the tournament, against Cedar. The Soaring Eagle are more than capable of handling business against the Reds, but it won't be a cakewalk. Bear River was dealt the task of facing Dixie in the first round. Akin to JD, the Bears can ground the Flyers, but it should be a grudge-match. Third-seeded Logan has been sporadic all year, but lopsided losses against Juan Diego and Pine View stand out. The Grizzlies face Desert Hills in what is supposed to be a neutral game at Canyon View, but the short drive from St. George to Cedar favors the Thunder. Morgan is the lone outlier in Region 11, as its the only team from the league to qualify with a losing record. The Trojans are massive underdogs against Pine View.
Region 12 • Canyon View continues to enjoy one of its most successful seasons in recent memory. The Falcons, despite stumbling with consecutive losses to Richfield and Juab in the final two games, still won the region by two games. The Wasps, who won their final three games to finish at .500, were perhaps the most up-and-down team in the class. They started 0-6, then won seven straight, lost four, and finished with three wins in a row. Carbon, an experienced team in the postseason, is a dangerous three-seed, especially with Cole Fossat in the lineup. Fourth-seeded Richfield beat Canyon View, but before that, the Wildcats had lost seven of nine games.
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
Class 3A first round
Saturday, double-elimination
At Pine View High
• Morgan (6-15) at Pine View (16-6), 10 a.m.
• Grantsville (14-8) vs. Juab (10-10), 12:30 p.m.
Winners play at 5:30 p.m.; losers at 3 p.m.
At Juan Diego High
• Cedar (11-12) at Juan Diego (16-6), 10 a.m.
• Carbon (10-11) vs. Park City (12-10), 12:30 p.m.
Winners play at 4 p.m.; losers at 2 p.m.
At Canyon View High
• Union (6-15) at Canyon View (16-6), 9:30 a.m.
• Logan (13-10) vs. Desert Hills (11-12), 12:30 p.m.
Winners play at 3:30 p.m.; losers at 3:30 p.m. (Note: second game played either at Canyon View or Cedar)
At Stansbury High
• Dixie (14-6) vs. Bear River (15-7), 10 a.m.
• Richfield (11-11) at Stansbury (16-7), 1 p.m.
Winners play at 4 p.m.; losers play at 4 p.m. (Note: second game played either at Stansbury or Grantsville)