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Salem • Spanish Fork entered the season with booming expectations. Multiple media outlets projected the Dons to not only compete for a Region 8 title, but to contend for a state championship.

Then they started 1-6. Complicating matters further, the Dons dropped four of their six outings after sweeping Timpview.

So much for preseason projections, right?

"If you look at our overall record, it looks like we suck," said first-year Spanish Fork coach Casey Nelson. "I'll be honest with you: If we had a strength of schedule in high school baseball, we'd probably have top-five RPI. Our record is kind of sneaky. I believe in our guys."

Spanish Fork's 10 losses this season occurred against teams with a combined record of 119-32 (78 percent), including setbacks against Pleasant Grove, Cottonwood and Bingham, which all occupy spots in the top four of the Class 5A rankings. Add Tuesday's loss against Class 4A's top-ranked Salem Hills, and it's hard to argue with Nelson.

However, it's equally hard to refute how critical Spanish Fork's 5-3 win on Thursday over those same Skyhawks was in the Region 8 race. The Dons, which begin a pivotal series with Maple Mountain next, now move into a two-way tie for first place with the Golden Eagles.

How about those preseason projections now?

"That's why I did it," Nelson said when asked if the preseason schedule was a benefit in disguise. "I expected us to compete and maybe pull off a couple of those wins, but I did that on purpose — to schedule a tough preseason schedule to prepare us for region and into the state playoffs."

An RBI single by Ryan Golish before McKennon Jarvis drove in another run on a groundout to first cemented an early 2-0 Spanish Fork (6-10) lead after the top-half of the first inning. The advantage evaporated quickly when Salem Hills' Colton Lundell's double to left center made the score 2 apiece.

Dons pitcher Matt Creer settled into rhythm after the two-run shot, pitching five complete innings before Remo Rivera closed out the 'Hawks (15-3).

After Salem Hills squandered a bases-loaded opportunity in the third, Nic Roberts roped an RBI single before Creer tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single of his own. An illegal motion on Salem Hills pitcher Riley Pierce added another run, padding the cushion to 5-2 entering the bottom of the fifth.

"We did some bluff moves and got him to balk," Nelson said. "We're trying to find ways to score runs. We've got to do the best we can [by] manufacturing [runs]."

The Skyhawks, who overcame a seventh-inning deficit at Spanish Fork with seven runs in the final two frames on Tuesday, once again threatened in the seventh.

"We felt one got away from us, up 5-2 with four outs [left] in that game on Tuesday," Nelson said. "We made four errors in those last four outs, and I feel like they stole one. They're a quality team, but I feel like they stole one."

Salem Hills' Jesse Rowley cut into the deficit with a run-scoring single, bringing the winning run to the plate, but Lakota Centeno's high fly was easily caught in the outfield.

Twitter: @trevorphibbs —

Spanish Fork 5, Salem Hills 3

R Spanish Fork moves into a two-way tie in Region 8 with Maple Mountain.

• Matt Creer earns the win and adds a run-scoring single at the plate.

• Colton Lundell had a double and two RBIs in the loss.