The Miners baseball team’s senior day game got off to a rough start on Tuesday afternoon.
Park City’s opponent Ridgeline broke the game immediately open with a six-run top of the first inning.
As the Miners were unable to generate offense to respond, Ridgeline’s lead continued to grow. The visitors scored two runs in the second inning and three in both the third and fourth innings.
Park City scored their lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The game was called after five innings due to a 10-run mercy rule.
“Whatever,” said Miners Head Coach David Feasler about the senior day loss.
He continued, “I’m proud of the guys hanging in there for four years. … Seeing our senior class graduate is always bittersweet. I know they’re going to go on and do great things.”
Feasler has coached many of the four-man group since they were about 10 years old. He believes they’ve become great people and he’s excited to stay in touch with them as soon-to-be alumni.
“Joey (Breza), Cooper (Prichard) and Alex (Branigan) started every game and were three of our best players on the field at any given time,” Feasler said. “We were super lucky to add Charlie (Cusimano). … He’s added a lot of value, from a baseball and personality standpoint, to our team.”
Park City had a lively crowd on hand Tuesday as the softball team celebrated their seniors feet away. Parents grilled up hot dogs for players, coaches, umpires and fans between the two fields.
“The community support that I’ve felt since day one in Park City has been tremendous, not just from parents and families, but alums and businesses that sponsor us,” Feasler said. “The support in Park City is overwhelming at times, and I’m so proud of the whole town for kind of rallying around baseball in the last couple years because I don’t think it’s always been that way.”
Tuesday’s loss ended the Miners regular season, where they went 11-14 overall and 8-4 in regional play. They finished second in 4A Region 10, one game behind Juan Diego Catholic.
Park City will begin the playoffs with a best-of-three series Friday and Saturday on the road against Cedar. If they advance, they will face Ridgeline next Thursday and Friday on the road in another best-of-three series.
“Good send off is to make a little run in the playoffs,” Feasler said. “Make some noise in the playoffs as a little lower seed than we’ve been the past two years. We have the pitching to do it, and if we come together at the right time we have a chance.”
Feasler noted that baseball is very much momentum-based. He said maybe the Miners’ last few teams got hot too early in the season and this team could flip that script.
“We’ve been playing on this field since we were like 13,14,” Breza said Tuesday. “It means a lot to play my last home game at the field. … I’m excited to move on to the next chapter and see what happens.”
Branigan said “We’re going to make a run here in the playoffs. We’ve got the arms and the team to do it. It just depends on if we’re at our best. It’ll mean a lot to be able to play well and send the seniors off well.”