After claiming a Region 10 title against Wasatch, the Park City High School baseball team is preparing to host three first-round 3A playoff games today.
The previous two years, the Miners have had to travel for games on the first weekend of the playoffs, so Park City coach Lou Green is hoping his team benefits from some home field advantage this year.
“I wish I knew how big of an advantage it was,” he said. “But it’s our first time (hosting playoff games) since I’ve been here.”
He added that simply not having to get up early in the morning to board a bus will be a nice change of pace.
“I’m glad we don’t have to do all that,” he said. “We’ve done that the last two years – traveling, early morning games.”
Now the Miners can focus on the games ahead, without the distractions of an unfamiliar ballpark. They’ll also have the support of a hometown crowd.
“Being at home, we should have a big crowd,” Green said. “I think it should be a big advantage. Our ballpark is unique in that it’s the biggest in the state.”
Because of that, he said the team has been focusing on drills that will help the outfielders cover the cavernous gaps in left-center field and right-center field, such as hitting the cutoff man and focusing on which base to throw to in certain scenarios.
Green is hoping the opponents don’t get much of an opportunity to drive the ball into the gaps. Senior Mark Trevino will take the mound in the first of two games the Miners will play. He’ll face Juab in the 10 a.m. game.
Green said that decision was based on the playoff format. The 3A playoffs are double elimination, so the Miners will keep playing until they lose twice.
“We’re still having coaches meetings daily,” he said. “But if our No. 1 (Trevino) is available, he’s throwing. Mark’s an experienced kid; he knows his arm and he knows his body. If you’re going to win two games, you have to win the first one.”
In the 4 p.m. game, when the Miners will play either Bear River or Canyon View, depending on how they do in the first game, Green said he’ll probably start senior Cole Tan, with several other pitchers on standby.
“I’m confident in Tan, he’s thrown a lot of good innings for us this year,” he said. “The good and bad thing about our club is that I don’t think we have a dominant No. 2 pitcher, but we have five solid No. 2 options.”
But, Park City is completely focused on Juab now. Then, the team will have some time to regroup as it prepares for its second game at 4:30 p.m.
“They’re scrappy and they’re streaky,” Green said of Juab, a team he has received several scouting reports on from other teams. “I’m hoping our pitcher gets in pitchers’ counts. I’m confident our guys will hit, but we’ll see what Juab throws at us.”
High School playoff games will take place at the PCHS baseball field at 10 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
3A Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Park City vs. Juab – 10 a.m.
Game 2: Bear River vs. Canyon View – 1:15 p.m.
Game 3: Park City vs. Winner/Loser Game 2 – 4:30 p.m.