Morgan High baseball team fights weather to begin season
Apr 06, 2023 01:01PM ● By Liisa London Mecham
Pitcher Brigham Spens takes the mound in an early Morgan baseball game. Photo by Jen Hatt
As a spring sport, baseball can often expect erratic wintery weather and delays, but the 2023 spring baseball season for the Morgan High team has been a lesson in patience and playing through challenging weather conditions. From their first tournament in Kanab to their attempts to practice on their own field, the team has been plagued by foul weather. The forecast for next week predicts sunny skies and warm temperatures, so hopefully the “boys of summer” can finally take their home field and play ball. Morgan hopes to host their first home game with a double header scheduled Saturday, April 8 at 11 am and 1 pm against Ben Lomond.
The 2023 team is led by head coach Jed Stuart and rosters six seniors: J. J. Compton, Trevor DeWitt, Luke Harris, Payton Hatt, Gabe Jensen and Eli McConkie.
In their first tournament at Kanab, the team was only able to play three of the four scheduled games due to bad weather. In their games against Manti, Beaver and Grantsville, the Trojans earned valuable pre-season experience but came away with an 0-3 record.
Their next games were a trip to Delta to face the Rabbits on March 14 and an away game at Judge Memorial on March 16. Although both games also ended in losses, the team continued to improve and their next game at Summit Academy demonstrated their improved skills. On Tuesday, March 28, Morgan traveled to Draper to face the Golden Bears. Summit Academy was only up 1-0 after three innings, but they scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to win 3-0 when the Trojans failed to score in the top of the seventh.
The next day Morgan traveled to Roosevelt for a double header with Union. In the first game, the Trojans lost 3-0. In the second game, sophomore Cameron Talbot had one hit and scored and a run, senior J. J. Compton had one hit and scored two runs, and junior Benjamin Harden had an RBI. Despite their improved offensive effort, the Trojans fell 5-3.
The Trojans will look to improve their record in their double header against Ben Lomond on April 8 before facing Grantsville at home Wednesday, April 12 and away April 11 and April 14. λ
