4A baseball: Cornish sizzles at plate, on mound to lead Timpanogos past Spanish Fork

4A baseball • He pitches a five-hitter and has three RBIs for the Timberwolves.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Timpanogos pitcher Tyler Cornish delivers a pitch during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Timpanogos at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

TImpanogos batter Derik Eaquinto winces in pain as he gets hit by a pitch during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Timpanogos baserunner screams his excitement after sliding safely into third during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Timpanogos second baseman Conner Halford leaps over outfielder Josh Edmond as Edmond could not make a sliding catch on a fly ball during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Spanish Fork's Andrew Pintar tags out Timpanogos base runner Tyson Heinz during the 4A semifinal baseball game at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Timpanogos base runner Conner Halford slides under Spanish Fork's Andrew Pintar who was pulled off the bag by a wide throw during the 4A semifinal baseball game at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Timpanogos second baseman Conner Halford, left, catches a fly ball and avoids a collision with outfielder Josh Edmond during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Spanish Fork pitcher Brock Beckstrom delivers a pitch during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Timpanogos at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Spanish Fork baserunner Jaxon Higginson gets pumped up after sliding safely into third during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Timpanogos at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

A foul ball sails past Spanish Fork catcher Joshua Cowden during the 4A semifinal baseball against Timpanogos at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Timpanogos players spill onto he field as the defeat Spanish Fork during the 4A semifinal baseball game at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Timpanogos second baseman Conner Halford leaps over outfielder Josh Edmond as Edmond could not make a sliding catch on a fly ball during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Timpanogos first baseman Spencer Olsen eyes a pick off throw as Spanish Fork's Briggs Newman dives back to first during the 4A semifinal baseball game at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Timpanogos pitcher Tyler Cornish delivers a pitch during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Timpanogos at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune TImpanogos batter Derik Eaquinto winces in pain as he gets hit by a pitch during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Timpanogos baserunner screams his excitement after sliding safely into third during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Timpanogos second baseman Conner Halford leaps over outfielder Josh Edmond as Edmond could not make a sliding catch on a fly ball during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Spanish Fork's Andrew Pintar tags out Timpanogos base runner Tyson Heinz during the 4A semifinal baseball game at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Timpanogos base runner Conner Halford slides under Spanish Fork's Andrew Pintar who was pulled off the bag by a wide throw during the 4A semifinal baseball game at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Timpanogos second baseman Conner Halford, left, catches a fly ball and avoids a collision with outfielder Josh Edmond during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Spanish Fork pitcher Brock Beckstrom delivers a pitch during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Timpanogos at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Spanish Fork baserunner Jaxon Higginson gets pumped up after sliding safely into third during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Timpanogos at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune A foul ball sails past Spanish Fork catcher Joshua Cowden during the 4A semifinal baseball against Timpanogos at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Timpanogos players spill onto he field as the defeat Spanish Fork during the 4A semifinal baseball game at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Timpanogos second baseman Conner Halford leaps over outfielder Josh Edmond as Edmond could not make a sliding catch on a fly ball during the 4A semifinal baseball game against Spanish Fork at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Timpanogos first baseman Spencer Olsen eyes a pick off throw as Spanish Fork's Briggs Newman dives back to first during the 4A semifinal baseball game at UVU in Orem Wednesday May 24, 2017.

By Beky Beaton Special To The Tribune

· May 24, 2017 10:02 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Orem • The Timpanogos baseball team rode the arm and the bat of Tyler Cornish to outlast Spanish Fork 4-1 in the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament Wednesday night at UVU's Brent Brown Ballpark.

Cornish faced only 27 batters in throwing a complete game for the Timberwolves, scattering five hits and allowing only a single run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning.

He also helped himself by figuring in all four of his team's runs, which were tallied in the top of the fifth inning.

Senior designated hitter Cal Beardsley reached first on an error to lead off and was replaced by courtesy runner Logan Johnston.

Senior right fielder Josh Edmonds then laid down what was intended as a sacrifice bunt, but there was an error, so he reached first safely and Johnston sprinted to third on the overthrow.

Junior left fielder Derik Eaquinto was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Cornish then lifted the first pitch he saw to the fence in center-right for a bases-clearing triple.

"In my first two at-bats, I'd seen only curveballs," Cornish said. "I was expecting another one, and I got it on my first pitch, so I stayed on it and let it go."

Sophomore Tyson Heinz replaced him at third and raced home on a subsequent sacrifice fly by senior second baseman Conner Halford to complete the scoring for Timpanogos.

"Having a lead definitely helps when I'm pitching," Cornish said. "I can play for outs and little mistakes don't bother me as much."

Timpanogos will get the chance to defend its state title Friday.

"What a great game," Timberwolves coach Kim Nelson said. "We battled. It was a good, fun, competitive baseball game. I'd rather have this than a blowout any day.

"No matter who we're looking at, the kids come ready to play and they've kept getting better all year." —

Timpanogos 4, Spanish Fork 1

R Timpanogos takes advantage of some fielding mistakes and pitches well to reach the state title game.

• Timpanogos pitcher Tyler Cornish drives in three runs with a triple.

• Timpanogos is trying to repeat as the 4A state champion.