Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

After returning from the spring holiday, the American Fork boys volleyball team posted an identical 1-3 result in the second round of Region 3 play. They Cavemen finished in fourth place in the league with a 2-6 record and ended the regular season with a 10-18 overall mark.

Following is a summary of post-break April results. Statistical information for this team is unavailable.

• April 16: Lehi 3, American Fork 0 – The Cavemen played a spirited first set with the top-ranked Pioneers, but the firepower of the visitors proved to be a bit too much as Lehi prevailed 25-21, 25-14, 25-9.
• April 21: Corner Canyon 3, American Fork 0 – The Cavemen competed and got stronger as the match went on against the Chargers on the road. They played particularly well in the third set, but the host school was still able to secure the sweep 25-16, 25-18, 25-22.
• April 23: Lone Peak 3, American Fork 0 – The Cavemen challenged the region co-champs in the first set on their court. However, the home squad went on to pick up the win 25-22, 25-13, 25-18.
• April 24-25: Cavemen go 3-2 in tourney – In the two-day Skyline Tournament,American Fork won all three matches on the first day in the shortened best-of-three format. The Cavemen topped Highland 25-17, 26-24, then beat Judge Memorial 25-9, 25-18 and finally bested Taylorsville in the nightcap 25-20, 25-8. Playing in the full format on the second day, American Fork engaged in an exciting back-and-forth battle with Copper Hills. The Grizzlies won the first and fourth games, but the Cavemen prevailed in the second and third sets to bring on a tiebreaker fifth game. Copper Hills pulled out the narrowest possible victory 25-23, 11-25, 19-25, 25-19, 15-13. In their final match of the event, American Fork fell in straight sets to a highly-ranked Bingham team.
• April 28: American Fork 3, Skyridge 0 – The Cavemen claimed a sweep at home on Senior Night, earning a 25-16, 25-22, 25-18 victory over the scrappy Falcons to secure their spot in the final region standings.

The Cavemen are seeded No. 14 in the 6A RPI playoff rankings and earned a bye to advance to the second round of the 6A state tournament at Utah Valley University’s UCCU Center on Wednesday (May 6), where they will face No. 3 Lone Peak (21-6) with a scheduled match time of 5 p.m. on Court 3.

Photos by Matt Paepke.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The returning state champion American Fork boys tennis team won the Region 3 tournament, hosted by Corner Canyon High School in Draper on April 23 and 24.

During the hotly-contested league season, American Fork earned a 30-12 record in individual matches and a combined 68.93 seeding points to get the No. 1 spot for the region tournament.

Lone Peak had a 33-9 mark but was second with 65.86 points, while Skyridge had a 22-20 record and 62.19 points for the third seed.

No. 5 Corner Canyon earned a narrow win over No. 4 Lehi to advance to face the Cavemen in the first match for American Fork. The Cavemen prevailed 5-2, sweeping the singles matches and also winning in Third Doubles.

The region allows an extra entrant in both singles and doubles to provide additional experience, but the state competition is limited to three singles players and two doubles pairs.

American Fork’s four singles players lost five games combined and won 48 as they dominated the Chargers in these matches. Braeden Johnson at No. 1 and Matt Davis at No. 3 both swept their opponents 6-0, 6-0, while Camden Johnson won 6-0, 6-2 and Anson Gifford completed the set 6-1, 6-2.

In the First Doubles bracket, Sam Fairbanks and Drew Jacobsmeyer bowed 3-6, 1-6. In the hard-fought No. 2 Doubles match, Phil Steed and Cade Egbert came out on the short end as Corner Canyon prevailed 5-7, 7-6(1), 6-2. Broxton Barron and Jackson Ricks ended on top in the No. 3 slot 6-2, 6-3.

In the final match, the Cavemen faced No. 3 Skyridge, which upset No. 2 Lone Peak on the first day to grab a spot in the championship tilt. American Fork won the first three singles bouts but then needed to garner a victory at No. 3 Doubles to earn the region title.

Braeden Johnson prevailed over Mack Mandelaris 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 1 Singles bout while Camden Johnson retired Crew Mandelaris 6-0, 6-1 at Second Singles in a double battle of brothers. Davis topped Cam Higginbotham 6-1, 6-0 in No. 3 Singles.

Skyridge started their string of victories at Fourth Singles when Sam Droubay beat Gifford 6-4, 6-0. In No. 1 Doubles, Michael Sperry and JJ Lewis took out Fairbanks and Jacobsmeyer 6-3, 3-6, 4-6. Ben Schmidt and Jace Peck got the 6-3,7-5 win over Steed and Egbert at Second Doubles.

However, Barron and Ricks triumphed 6-4, 6-1 over Walker Johnson and Parker Swope in the No. 3 Doubles bracket to finish the event and capture the crown for the Cavemen.

American Fork is now preparing for the 6A state tournament. Seedings will be posted tomorrow morning (Apr. 30). The first round will be played at Brighton High School on Saturday (May 2).

The competition will then move to Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, where the second and quarterfinal rounds will be contested next Thursday (May 7) and the semifinals and finals will be played next Saturday (May 9).

Photos by Sam Penrod.

Here’s how the American Fork boys volleyball team is positioned entering the third sanctioned state tournament for this sport.

American Fork

Season record: 2-6 Region 3 (4th), 10-18 overall

Final RPI ranking: 14 in 6A

MaxPreps ranking: 12 in 6A, 40 statewide

Next contest: May 6

Prospects: The Cavemen earned a bye to advance to the second round of the 6A state tournament at Utah Valley University’s UCCU Center on Wednesday, where they will face No. 3 Lone Peak (21-6) with a scheduled match time of 5 p.m. on Court 3. American Fork lost to the Knights both meetings in Region 3 play.

Beky Beaton / Lehi Free Press

The American Fork girls golf team is in fourth place in competitive Region 3 and ranks fifth in Class 6A after the first three league tournaments.

Corner Canyon and Lone Peak are separated by a single stroke in the battle for first place in the region and they rank second and third, respectively, in the classification standings behind Bingham, which leads the Chargers by a fraction of a stroke.

No one will likely challenge those teams for the top three spots since all other programs trail them by about 25 strokes at this point, but the Cavemen are in position to potentially move in a tight race for the next three positions in the rankings.

Skyridge is averaging an adjusted score of 346.5 per tournament, ahead of American Fork at 351.05 and Copper Hills at 352.7.

Audrey New is the top Caveman in the individual region standings at No. 6 with an adjusted stroke average of 82.97 coming into this week, which places her at No. 10 in 6A overall.

After her, four American Fork players are clustered together in spots 18-21 in the region standings. They are Abbie Bahr at 89.33, Tyler Dunkley at 89.35, Sophie Davis at 90.64 and Ellorie Layne at 90.75.

In the first region event at Fox Hollow Golf Club in American Fork on April 13, American Fork edged Skyridge 355-358 to finish in third place.

New had the best card of the day for her team with an 83, with Dunkley at 88, Bahr at 91 and Layne at 93 for the counted scores.

The next day, the teams played again at Mountain View Golf Course in West Jordan, where the Falcons easily outdistanced the Cavemen 344-355 and American Fork finished fourth.

New again led the way with an 87. Dunkley and Davis both shot an 89 and Bahr finished with a 90 for the team combined score. Layne also posted in 90.

Last week on Tuesday (Apr. 21), the region programs squared off at Thanksgiving Point Golf Club in Lehi, where American Fork again came in fourth at 360. New shot her best region round to date with an 82, followed by Davis at 89, Bahr at 93 and Layne at 96.

The teams are next scheduled to play on Thursday (Apr. 30) at Talons Cove Golf Club in Saratoga Springs.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School boys tennis team earned the tournament title in the Utah Valley Ashton Invitational, a 16-team event played at local high schools on April 17 and 18 which included many of the best programs in Class 6A, 5A and 4A.

The competition included four singles and three doubles levels. The Cavemen swept Wasatch in the first round 7-0. Continuing in the winner’s bracket, they defeated Orem 6-1 and Desert Hills 4-3 to advance to the trophy round against 19-time and defending 5A state champion Timpview.

In No. 1 Singles final, American Fork senior Braeden Johnson defeated Ryan Austin 6-2, 6-4. Caveman sophomore Camden Johnson prevailed in Second Singles over Rowan Halladay 6-3, 6-0.

In No. 3 Singles, American Fork senior Matt Davis fought through a tough second set with DJ Gunnell but prevailed 6-3, 5-7 (10-3). At the No. 4 Singles spot, Caveman freshman Cade Egbert topped Nathan Fellars 6-2, 6-4.

In First Doubles, American Fork junior Sam Karras and sophomore Sam Fairbanks had to come from behind to oust Danny Beutte and Tommy Gauff 4-6, 6-3 (10-1).

The most challenging match of the Finals was in the No. 2 Doubles bracket, where Caveman juniors Phil Steed and Drew Jacobsmeyer survived to triumph over Levi Teemant and Gabe Balzotti 7-6 (7-4), 4-6 (13-11).

The Cavemen suffered their only loss of the title round in Third Doubles, where freshmen Broxton Barron and Grant Jensen put up a fight but ultimately bowed to Blake Baker and Sean Yamada 6-1, 3-6 (10-2).

This event was excellent preparation for the defending 6A state champions as they enter the rugged Region 3 tournament to be played April 23-24 at Corner Canyon as well as the state tournament to follow on May 2, 7 and 9.

Photos by Sam Penrod.

Megan Wallgren / American Fork Citizen

American Fork Track and Field athletes turned in a strong, balanced performance as hosts of the Caveman Classic Invitational on April 17.

The defending state champions Varsity Combined team won the day with 169 points. The Cavemen girls won the girls team title with 98 points and the boys placed third in their division with 71 points.

American Fork senior Ginger Ballstaedt led the way with points in multiple events. She claimed the gold medal in the long jump with a personal-record, state-qualifying jump of 18-feet-2-inches.

She also earned silver in the 200-meter Dash, crossing in 25.98 seconds, a personal best. In addition, Ballstaedt also helped the Cavemen capture the Girls 4x200m relay title.

That relay team posted a combined time of 1:43.67 in the event. The gold-medal squad also included freshman Ivey Jacobson, senior Hannah Cluff and junior Charlotte Anderson.

Topping the podium in the Girls Pole Vault was junior Aleah Godfrey. Her vault of 11-3 feet was a personal best and state-qualifying mark.

Senior Ella Edwards turned in a standout performance on the track, capturing the bronze in the 100m Hurdles in 16.35 seconds, placing fifth in the 300m hurdles in 49.18 seconds, and adding an eighth place in the 200m in 26.80 seconds, a personal best.

Senior Kaden Fairbanks also scored in multiple events, placing third in the 200m Dash with a state-qualifying time of 21.74 seconds and fourth in the 100m in 11 seconds flat.

Distance standout Sophie Steiger garnered the bronze medal in the 3200m Run with a time of 11:29.79.

In the field, Caveman senior Madden Jensen contributed silver medals in two boys throwing events, in the discus with a state-qualifying mark of 147-11 feet and in the shot put at 50-9.25 feet.

Senior James Sherratt added a second-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 147-10 feet.

American Fork’s Girls 4x100m relay team also produced a silver medal. Their combined time of 49.66 seconds also met the state standard. Running for the Cavemen were sophomore Rickeisha O’Keefe, Jacobson, sophomore Abby Slater and freshman Britton Woods.

Additional state-qualifying performances came from sophomore Chase Hejny placing fifth in the 3200m in a personal-best 9:15.34; senior Tyler Zabriskie placing fifth in the long jump with a PR mark of 21-1.75 feet; and senior Hannah Cluff finishing fifth in the girls long jump at 16-6.75 feet, a personal best.

With strong midseason performances, the American Fork team continues to build momentum leading into the upcoming region meet and the state championships in mid-May.

Photos by Sam Penrod.

GINGER BALLSTAEDT

GRADE: 12

SPORT: Track and Field

EVENTS: Sprints, Long Jump

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS:

Long Jump: 18-2 feet; 100m: 12.53 seconds; 200m: 25.98 seconds

COACH’S COMMENTS:

Ginger has been on fire all season and this month has hit a new level. Her long jump is ranked #2 in the state and is only 3.5 inches away from our school record. Her 100m time is 6th all-time at AFHS. She has been an integral part of our state qualifying 4x100m and 4x200m relays that are also amongst the top three in the state. Ginger has worked very hard this season, and we are seeing the results.

– Coach Brett Myrup

Sponsored by the Utah National Guard.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork baseball team has won each of the first two Region 3 series 2-1 against two good teams including previously-undefeated and top-ranked Lone Peak. The Cavemen are now tied with the Knights for first place in the league at 4-2 and are 9-7 overall.

March 27-28: Cavemen go 2-1 at tourney

During the Red Rock Classic at Utah Tech in St. George, American Fork topped Pleasant Grove 9-3 and Arbor View (Las Vegas, NV) 9-0 but lost by a single run to Snow Canyon 7-6.

The Cavemen trailed the Vikings until the third inning but stayed in the driver’s seat after that. Sophomore Cruz Adams earned the win on the bump, striking out nine against three walks and three runs in five innings of work. Senior Hanks Jacobsen threw two hitless innings in relief.

Senior outfielder Boston Jones provided the offensive highlights, slugging a double and a home run in three at-bats for two RBI. Adams helped himself with a solo homer and senior infielder Gavin Robinson drove two runs across. Sophomore outfielder Ty Holmstead scored twice.

Senior Kenny Johnson gave up a single hit and three walks against five strikeouts to claim the shutout over the Aggies. Sophomore Matt Ladd finished out the contest. Senior outfielder River Litke sparked the offense with a double, three RBI and a run scored.

Senior catcher Cache Poulson and Robinson each had three hits including a double plus one RBI, and Robinson also scored. Junior infielder Colbey Larsen added two hits, two RBI and a run, while Jacobsen scored three times as a pinch runner.

Against the Warriors, American Fork had the early lead but gave it up in the second inning and never got it back. Sophomore Brecken Jensen did the bulk of the mound work and had a solid outing as senior Tino Darby took the loss. Johnson drove in two runs and scored one. Robinson doubled and homered.

March 31: Jordan 7, American Fork 6

The Cavemen opened Region 3 play at home against the Beetdiggers, a baseball-only member of the league, and the visitors prevailed in a tight contest after plating five runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Junior Talon Willardson held Jordan to two runs in six innings and also drove in two runs. Sophomore Matt Ladd got the loss. Johnson had three hits including a double. Senior infielder Bode Gaggero, Jones and Adams posted one RBI and one run apiece.

April 3: American Fork 5, Jordan 4 (8)

After weather postponed the second game, the Cavemen again hosted the Beetdiggers, but this time they prevailed in an extra-inning, back-and-forth thriller. Jordan was ahead entering the bottom of the sixth but gave up a run to force a tie and then American Fork got the clincher in the eighth.

Adams struck out nine in seven innings and claimed the win. Jacobsen and Gaggero combined to shut the door in the eighth. Litke had two hits with three RBI while Adams drove in a run and Gaggero homered to account for the scoring. Johnson doubled twice and scored once. Robinson made two runs.

April 4: American Fork 8, Jordan 2

After two drum-tight contests, the Cavemen left no doubt in the tiebreaker as they took the lead with three runs in the third and never looked back. Johnson went the distance on the mound in the win.

Sophomore infielder Jens Price and Willardson each blasted a home run and drove three across. Poulson singled and tripled for one RBI.

April 11: Riverton 7, American Fork 6

In a non-league contest, the homestanding Silverwolves plated a run in the bottom of the seventh to get the taut victory after the Cavemen had rallied to tie it in the late innings. The visitors used six pitchers in the game and Holmstead was credited for the loss but also provided three RBI.

Gaggero, Adams and Litke each drove in one of the other runs. Johnson, Litke and Willardson posted two hits apiece and Robinson scored twice.

April 14: American Fork 9, Lone Peak 3

The Cavemen’s steady offensive production at home allowed them to craft a comfortable win to hand the Knights their first loss of the season. Willardson earned the distinction by scattering eight hits with six strikeouts against a single walk for the full game.

At the plate, Jones went 3-for-3 with three RBI and one run himself. Johnson singled and doubled and scored twice while Robinson hit a triple and made a run. Holmstead added an RBI and two runs, Price had two RBI and one run and sophomore Cash Taiese scored twice as a pinch runner.

April 15: Lone Peak 5, American Fork 4

The Knights responded on their own diamond with a victory to tie the series. They got three runs in the fifth for a 4-3 advantage, but the Cavemen tied it in the sixth. Lone Peak managed to get the winning run across in the bottom of the seventh. Johnson got the start and Adams took the loss.

Robinson made two hits, drove in two and scored once to lift the offense. Litke contributed an RBI and scored twice. Johnson had the other RBI and Price the other run. Poulson made three hits including a double.

April 17: American Fork 4, Lone Peak 3 (8)

Back at home, the Cavemen trailed the Knights for almost the entire contest but managed to push one run across in the bottom of the seventh to tie it and then got one more in the bottom of the eighth to win the pitcher’s duel.

Holmstead had seven strikeouts in his five innings and was relieved by Gaggero, who struck out four and walked one in two innings. Adams got the honor of the win by retiring the side in the eighth including two strikeouts.

The series against the Pioneers begins at home on Tuesday (Apr. 21), American Fork will play at Lehi the next day, and then the Pioneers will return on Friday (Apr. 24). All the varsity games are scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Rob Shelton / America Fork Citizen

American Fork’s varsity softball team opened Region 3 play with five games in 11 days, going 1-4 in a stretch that featured some of the toughest competition in the state.

However, buried in the middle of that run was a performance that showed exactly what this team is capable of – a 19-1 blowout of Corner Canyon that was as dominant as anything the Cavemen have produced this season.

March 24: Lehi 7, American Fork 0

American Fork ran into a buzzsaw in the Region 3 opener. Lehi’s Abbi Harroun was as good as any pitcher the Cavemen will face all season – 13 strikeouts, no walks and just two hits allowed over five and two-thirds innings.

Eleni Lisonbee competed in the circle for all seven innings and limited the damage to three earned runs while keeping the Cavemen in the game defensively.

Nataanii Fielding led the offense with two hits in three at-bats, showing the kind of contact ability that will serve the Cavemen well as region play develops.

March 25: Herriman 6, American Fork 1

Herriman came out swinging, and the Cavemen answered with some of their best defense of the season. Mazie Walters went the full seven innings on the mound, striking out six and giving the Cavemen every chance to stay in the game.

Keaton Routson led the offense from the No. 9 hole with two hits in three at-bats, and Sara Jensen drove in American Fork’s run from the cleanup spot going 1-for-3.

The Cavemen fielded without a single error – a clean defensive effort against a Herriman team that accumulated 10 hits. Lancaster was simply too good on the other side, but this was not a team that quit.

March 30: Springville 10, American Fork 0

American Fork’s defense came out sharp in the early going. Sydney Adamson hauled in a pop fly at third base and right fielder Karissa Shelton made two more catches to help keep the Springville offense in check.

Springville found the scoreboard in the first and second innings, but the American Fork defense kept competing. Then the Red Devils broke through in the bottom of the third with three runs, and five more in the fourth ended it under the mercy rule.

Three Springville home runs – by Haveron, Housley and Sjoberg – were the difference. Mazie Walters started and gave the Cavemen three innings before Lisonbee came on in relief.

Miah Walters – twin sister of Mazie and the anchor behind the plate – went 1-for-2 to lead the offense. Lacie Fleming, Lisonbee and Adamson each singled to account for all four team hits. Andi Gardner drew a walk and swiped a base, continuing to be a pest on the bases whenever she reaches.

March 31: American Fork 19, Corner Canyon 1

This was the one. The Cavemen came out with something to prove after back-to-back losses, and they made sure everyone in the park knew it. American Fork scored 15 runs in the first inning – a masterpiece of patient, aggressive hitting that had the Cavemen dugout electric from the opening at-bat.

Jensen drew a walk to score. Lisonbee walked to score. Routson walked to score. Mazie Walters singled to drive in another. Naomi Silversmith walked, Gardner singled and then the big hits started coming.

Fielding doubled to score two, Fleming singled to score two, Routson doubled to score two more, Maziie Walters doubled to cash in two more runs and Gardner capped the inning with a run-scoring single. Fifteen runs. One inning. The Cavemen weren’t done.

An error in the second extended the lead to 16-0, and American Fork added three more in the third on a Gardner triple to right field, a Fleming single and a Corner Canyon error. Mazie Walters came on in relief to close it out – a complete team effort from wire to wire.

Andi Gardner was the offensive star, going 4-for-4 with three singles and a triple while driving in three runs. Routson, Fleming and Walters each also drove in three. Fielding and Jensen each had multiple hits.

Fleming and Gardner each stole multiple bases as part of a five-steal team total. American Fork collected 16 hits and six walks without committing a single error.

April 3: Skyridge 21, American Fork 8

The Cavemen put up a fight against one of the region’s top teams, scoring eight runs and racking up 14 hits against a Skyridge squad that’s as dangerous as any in 6A.

Jensen was outstanding, going 3-for-3 with a single, a double and another single. Gardner added three hits of her own and Lisonbee went 2-for-3. Adamson, Fleming and Jensen each drove in two runs – the kind of offensive production that will carry this team in close games as the season progresses.

Skyridge’s Walston was the difference, going 4-for-5 with eight RBI including a three-run homer. The Falcons had a big second and third inning that put the game out of reach early, but American Fork’s 14 hits showed this lineup can compete with anyone when it makes contact.

American Fork is 6-8 overall and gaining experience with every region game. The Corner Canyon performance is a reminder of just how explosive this lineup can be – and the Cavemen will need that firepower as the second half of the region schedule begins.

Megan Wallgren / American Fork Citizen

American Fork’s track and field teams showed depth and talent at the Timpanogos Alpha Invitational on Saturday (Apr. 4), at Timpanogos High School, placing third overall in the combined team competition with 69 points. Region 3 rival Lone Peak claimed the title in the 42-team event.

The Caveman boys finished seventh of 35 teams in the boys varsity standings with 35 points and the girls finished fifth of 35 in the girls varsity competition, earning 34 points.

Distance runners set the tone early. Sophomore Logan Wagstaff led the charge with a gold-medal finish in the 3200-meter run, breaking the tape in 9:35.91, a personal best. Crossing second was American Fork junior Cayden Vukich, finishing in 9:39.36.

In the girls 1600-meter run, freshman Mae Glassford claimed the silver medal at 5:01.17 with junior Skye Jensen close behind, finishing in the bronze position at 5:01.57. Both were state-qualifying times.

Junior Shay Smith added points in the 3200m girls run with a fifth-place finish in 11:23.83.

Senior sprinter Paris Laycock placed eighth in the Girls 100m Dash with a time of 12.59 seconds, punching her ticket to the state meet.

In the field events, junior Aleah Godfrey cleared 10-feet-9-inches for a bronze medal plus ensuring an appearance at the state meet. Showing the team’s depth, sophomore Hazel Jenkins added a sixth-place finish with a vault of 10-3, also a state-qualifying mark.

Senior Madden Jensen stood out with strong throwing performances, earning bronze in the Discus with a personal-best distance of 158-feet-2-inches. He placed fourth in the shot put with a throw of 50-0.5. Jensen qualified for state in both events.

Senior Javelin thrower James Sherratt took fifth place in the event with a throw of 145-1.0.

Rounding out the Caveman scoring efforts were the relay teams. The girls 4×100 m team qualified for state with a bronze-medal finish in 49.44 seconds. Running for American Fork were sophomore Rickeisha O’Keefe, freshmen Ivy Jacobsen and Britton Woods, and senior Hannah Cluff.

The Varsity Boys 4×200 team added points with a seventh-place finish in 1:33.68. The squad included seniors David Dean and Ocean Bishop, junior Damian Wilkinson and sophomore Benjamin Taveras.

With a podium finish in the combined standings and balanced performances across the board, the Cavemen showed they can compete with the best.