This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Pleasant Grove jumped 20 spots in USA Today's national high school baseball poll this week. The undefeated Vikings are now ranked No. 6 in all of the land.
Pleasant Grove (11-0) has owned the No. 1 spot in The Salt Lake Tribune power rankings from the onset. It has its outscored opponents 114-37 — an average 10-3 margin of victory — this season. Eight times its reached double-figure scoring totals and has posted four shutouts.
How talented are the Vikings? Glad you asked. Here's the breakdown:
Easton Walker (senior committed to BYU): 16 hits and 10 RBIs with one double, two triples and three home runs in 37 at-bats. Considered as one of the top aces in the state, Walker is 4-0 on the mound with a 30-3 strikeout-to-ball ratio in 22 2/3 innings of work.
Payton Henry (junior committed to UNLV): 24 hits and 23 RBIs, including six doubles and six home runs in 35 at-bats.
Mathew "Bub" Wilde: 12 hits and 13 RBIs, with two doubles and one home run, which happened to be his first career grand slam against region rival American Fork.
Logan Carlson: 2-0 on the mound and has yet to be scored against with 14 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings pitched.
Ben Eldredge: 17 hits and 10 RBIs, with five doubles and one home run.
Chase Merrell: 15 hits and 12 RBIs, including two doubles and one homer.
Logan Hooley (sophomore): 13 hits and 11 RBIs, with one triple.
Derek Wall: 2-0 with 1.35 ERA and six strikeouts over 10 1/3 innings.
Considering the competitive disadvantage Utah's spring season presents, the national respect Pleasant Grove has gained is an incredible accomplishment.
-Trevor Phibbs
Twitter: @trevorphibbs