San Juan baseball team maintains momentum heading into final games of regular season

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The San Juan High School baseball team had won ten straight games before an 8-5 loss to the Duchesne Eagles on April 9. But since then the Broncos have won another four straight and 14 of their last 15.
They’re now a very solid 15-5 on the season and still ranked third in the 2A RPI standings as of April 23. They’re 8-1 in 2A East Region play and only the region-leading Grand County Red Devils have a better record.
San Juan actually split their doubleheader with Duchesne in that April 9 matchup that pitted the then co-leaders of the region. The other game was an exciting 13-12 win for the Broncos.
In the other games over the course of the past week San Juan beat Kirtland Central 13-3 on April 10, Monticello 15-0 on April 12, Monticello again in a bit of a surprise 4-2 final this past Friday, April 19, and most recently Bayfield 10-6 on Monday, April 22.
In the win over Duchesne the Broncos were down 5-0 but scored seven runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth to take an 8-5 lead. They had to hold off an Eagle rally in the final two innings and score a run in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
Branten Bethea led San Juan with four RBIs. He was 3-for-4 at the plate with two triples. Parker Snyder and Derrick White both drove in two runs apiece while Cash Palmer, Jaiten Knight, and Cooper Palmer all got one RBI each.
Baylor Nielson only pitched one inning but he got the win for his effort. Talon Mendoza threw five innings, allowing six hits, five runs, and striking out five Duchesne batters.
In the mercy-rule win over Kirtland on April 10 Cooper Palmer drove in three runs while Branten Bethea, Parker Snyder, and Cash Palmer collected two RBIs apiece. Jaiten Knight was the winning pitcher.
In the first meeting with longtime rival Monticello on April 12 the Broncos were up 4-0 until they plated 11 runners in the top of the fifth inning to bring that game to an abrupt halt.
Cooper Palmer and Talon Mendoza led the team with four RBIs apiece. Jake Ivins three-hit the Buckaroos, striking out four batters on the way to the win.
The two teams’ second meeting on April 19 was a different story. In a pitchers’ dual, Monticello freshman Triston Felix struck out 15 San Juan batters and allowed just four runs on four hits in six innings.
Likewise, the Bronco pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts. Parker Snyder threw for five innings, struck out 11 batters, and allowed both Buckaroo runs on six hits. Talon Mendoza didn’t allow a hit and struck out four in two innings of work.
San Juan scored a run in the first inning and added three in the third to build a 4-0 lead. Monticello cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth and threatened to upset their rivals, but the Bronco pitching and defense held strong for the remainder of the ballgame.
Cooper Palmer continued his strong play at the plate, driving in three of the four San Juan runs while Derrick White got the other. Jackson Keyes hit a home run to drive in both Buckaroo runs.
On Monday, April 22 the Broncos led from start to finish in Bayfield, scoring eight runs in the opening two innings to open an 8-2 lead. They added a couple more runs in the late innings to secure the 10-6 win.
This time Corbin Middleton led the way at the plate with a 3-for-4 day, a home run, and three RBIs. Jake Ivins and Cooper Palmer both collected two hits and two RBIs apiece.
Derrick White and Brody Bilbao drove in one run each. Bilbao stole three bases in the win while Mendoza, Bethea, Snyder, and Middleton all snagged one each.
Middleton was also the winning pitcher with five strikeouts, eight walks, four hits, and five runs in 5.1 innings of work. Jaiten Knight pitched 1.2 innings of relief, allowing two hits and a run while striking out three.
San Juan will close out their regular season over the course of the next week, starting with a key matchup against the region-leading and sixth-ranked Grand County Red Devils on Friday, April 26. That game’s in Blanding with the first pitch set for 3 p.m.
On Tuesday, April 30 the Broncos will host #10 North Sevier in a 2A East doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. The 2A Utah State Tournament begins next Saturday, May 4.