Post -season tournaments in high gear

SPORTS SHORTS
by Scott Boyle
Ammon Mitchell did it again, this time on the big stage, by lowering the 2A state record for the 110 meter hurdles at the BYU Invitational Track Meet. 
Mitchell, a senior at San Juan High School in Blanding, set the 2A standard for the second time this year with a first place finish in the 1A-2A division of the massive, four-state, 81-school track and field tournament. 
The 2A record at the beginning of the season was 14.64, which Mitchell lowered to 14.57 at the Carbon Invitational on April 13.  On Saturday, he lowered it again to 14.54, the second best time in the state this year at any level. 
Mitchell begins his defense of his state 2A title of a year ago this week with the Region track tournament.  More on the BYU event later.
Baseball
With an 8-2 victory over Summit Academy, San Juan baseball stayed alive for another week in the 2A state baseball tournament. 
After losing a tight 6-4 game against the Gunnison Bulldogs in the opener, the Broncos came back behind two doubles by Mason Shumway and another double from Chase Richmond to get the win in the comeback bracket. 
San Juan jumped to a 3-1 lead on the Bulldogs behind a massive home run by Bronz Eldredge and three doubles by Barkley Christensen.
But basketball all-stater Colby Caldwell shut the Broncos down at the plate after that, striking out 10 and only allowing those four hits to send the Broncos to the lose-and-you’re-out bracket. 
But the Broncos came up big against the Academics, jumping to an 8-0 lead after three innings and letting Logan Meyer shut down the bats of the Summit boys.  Meyer allowed just five hits in earning his sixth win of the year. 
The Broncos now play region rival Richfield at Taylorsville High School on Thursday at 11 a.m.  The Broncos swept a double header with the Wildcats in Blanding back on April 5, 12-2 and 6-2.
Win and they play the winner of Parowan and North Sevier at 4:30 p.m. the same day.  Good luck, Broncos!
Softball
The Lady Broncos begin their march to a 2A state title this Thursday.  The gals from Blanding are hoping to improve upon their second place finish of last year, when they took to the silver trophy to Manti’s gold. 
Manti, Enterprise, and South Summit all look to be formidable opponents for the Broncos.  Coach Craig Swenson’s team opens on Thursday in Spanish Fork with North Sevier, who are just 2-18 on the year. 
A win would match them up with either 17-5 Millard or 5-7 Altamont.  Looming next could be last year’s nemesis, Manti. 
The Broncos head into the state tournament with their bats fully loaded, pitching intact and defense solid. 
Tataiann Sue’Sue is one of the leaders in the state with 17 wins on the mound and the state leader in home runs with 12.  Justin Hutchins is second in the state with 11 homers and Brooke Lyman is third in 2A with seven roundtrippers.
The Lady Broncos wrapped up the region crown and the number one seed from Region 15 with an easy 12-2 win over the Emery Spartans as four Broncos blasted homeruns by Sue’Sue, Hutchins, Kellie Palmer (her second of the year) and Lexus Latham’s first homer of the year. 
The ladies of Blanding led 7-0 after three innings and kept the foot on the pedal.  The Broncos, 8-0 in region and 20-4 on the season, head into the tournament as one of the favorites.  Bring home the gold!
Track
The San Juan boys relay teams did well at the BYU meet, placing three times, including fifth in the 4x100, fourth in the 4x400 and seventh in the medley relay. 
Max Morley finished a thrilling third in the 400, Brittain Bowring was fourth in the high jump, Mike Monson was fifth in the shot put and Christian Sherrow was ninth in the 800.  San Juan boys finished fifth overall out of 30 1A-2A schools. 
Monticello’s PJ Leiataua is the only Buckaroo to place, with a third place toss in the discus and seventh in the shot put. 
Kaitlyn Clark was seventh in the 100 hurdles for the Lady Buckaroos. 
McKale Simpson was the best Lady Bronco finisher with a third place effort in the long jump.  Samantha Giddings was eighth in the shot put and Brittany Bleak was ninth in high jump. 
Region tournaments are set for this week.
Golf
Golf is happening at the Hideout, with the annual Icebreaker tournament drawing 38 golfers. 
Kelly Pehrson bested all players with a fine 69 to take first place gross.  Roxanne Eldredge and Del Hunter tied for the best net score with identical 65s. 
Coming up at the Hideout is a couples tournament on the 31st of May, the annual Arch and the Horsehead tournament in Moab and Monticello on June 8 and 9 and the second annual Grant Leavitt Memorial on June 22nd.
High School golf enters region play this week.