Prep baseball: Copper Hills awakens Silverwolves

WEST JORDAN - The Copper Hills baseball team put up a valiant fight through three innings Friday afternoon, but as soon as the fifth inning started, the sleeping giant that is Riverton awoke.
    The Silverwolves' prolific bats would not be denied as they pulled away to a 14-1 win after being up 4-1 through four innings.
    The final 14-1 tally seemed like a fitting way for the Silverwolves to improve to 14-1 on the season - and what a season it's been. Riverton is a legitimate 5A contender for the first time.
    "Our success right now is that we've got kids that are playing their roles, doing what they're asked and competing hard," coach Jay Applegate said, adding that his players are getting timely hits and the team's pitching has improved.
    It also doesn't hurt the Silverwolves to have Scott Shipley in the lineup. The senior has nine triples on the season - tied for a state record - and he hit three triples in one game earlier this season.
    Naturally, he has been re-dubbed Scott Tripley by his teammates.
    Shipley went 1-for-2 (no triples) in the Copper Hills win. However a slew of Silverwolves stepped up in his stead. Vance Howard hit a pair of doubles and had two RBIs, Connor Woodward went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Brandon Gust added another three RBIs.
    When all was said and done, Riverton scored 14 runs on 16 hits and didn't commit a single error.
    On the mound were Ian Snell, Cody Olson and Connor Woodward who combined for 10 strikeouts. Riverton stayed perfect in Region 3 at 12-0 while Copper Hills dropped to 2-6.
    "We have a lot of talent mixed with the fact that people on the team get along with each other really well," said Shipley. "We're there for each other and we just go out and get our jobs done. It seems to be working for us."
    * Vance Howard hit a pair of doubles and had two RBIs, Connor Woodward went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Brandon Gust added another three RBIs for Riverton.