OREM - In order to reach the championship round of the Class 2A state baseball tournament last season, Richfield was forced to work its way through the losers bracket, a difficult chore that required the Wildcats to win three games in 24 hours.
    Just thinking about that kind of challenge is tiring, which explains why Richfield wanted no part of such a scenario this time around. And with Thursday morning's 4-3 win over Juab at Utah Valley State, playing back through the consolation rounds isn't something they'll be forced to do.
    "It's nice to know we can go home now," Wildcats coach Luke Jorgenson said. "Last year, we lost this game to Juab. While we made it back to the championship game, it was a long couple of days of baseball. It's a definite advantage to win this one."
    Richfield was able to accomplish this by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth inning and withstanding a charge by the Wasps in the top of the seventh inning that included a fortuitous pickoff at second base to end the game. Zach Cropper scored what proved to be the winning run, coming home on a Juab throwing error that began with Travis Tuttle reaching base on a fielders choice.
    When Ben Jorgenson rapped a double to score Cropper in the very next at-bat, the Wildcats had their insurance run.
    And it was a run they sorely needed, because without it, the game may very well have gone into extra
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innings. With two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, and a runner on base, Juab's Tyson Lynn doubled, scoring Dustin Peterson and cutting Richfield's lead to 4-3.
    But in a haste, Lynn rounded second base a bit too widely and was thrown out, a call that was vehemently argued by Juab coach Tony Sperry, who contended that Lynn was interfered with when he attempted to return to the bag.
    The play ended a game that was splendidly played. It also allowed Richfield to advance to today's round of double elimination games unscathed. Wildcats pitcher Jesse Hartle was a big factor in the Richfield win. He threw a complete game, and struck out five while allowing eight hits. He didn't walk a batter and he also was able to work his way out of several jams
    "This is the most hits that I've given up all season," Hartle said. "I thought that I would be able to work through some jams and I did. I just kept going because I figured that I was due to get a break at some point."
    With the victory, the Wildcats will face Gunnison, who defeated upstart South Sevier 8-0 on the strength of Kevin Nay's one-hitter. Nay, who is one of the best pitchers in the state, was dominant, throwing six innings, striking out 11 batters and walking only two. The only hit he surrendered was a leadoff fifth inning double to Dillon Bishoff.
    tjones@sltrib.com