Orem • American Fork needed a deep fly ball, and Zac Willis came up big in the bottom of the seventh.

With runners on first and third, Willis walked up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to right field that brought Zach Robinson home for a 9-8 win, pushing the Cavemen into the winners' bracket final of the Class 5A baseball tournament and the Colts a game away from elimination.

"I knew that Big Willis was coming up and he's an incredible player so I knew we were going to win," Robinson said. "I just got that feeling inside."

The Cavemen blew the game open in the second inning when they scored five runs to give them a 6-2 lead headed into the third. But in the fourth, Cottonwood started to mount a comeback when Brad Matson hit a two-run homer to cut the Cavemen's lead down to 7-5.

After picking up a run in the fifth to push their lead to three, the Cavemen looked as if they would coast into the next round. But Cottonwood fought back and scored three runs in the sixth to tie the game at 8-8 heading into the final inning.

The Colts scrapped together two hits in the seventh, but were unable to score. But then Robinson and Zac Willis decided to step up. After hitting a pop fly in his last at bat, Robinson blasted a double into the outfield that put him in scorer's position.

Ryan Pitchers then scratched out a single that advanced Robinson to third, setting the stage for Willis.

"It took the three guys before me to get us into that situation," Willis said. "I was just telling myself that I've got to hit a ground ball, and I got something in the air. This is what we've worked for all year, and I just trust my teammates and we've all got each others back when it comes down to this situation."

Lone Peak 8, Riverton 6: What looked to be a dominant shutout in the Class 5A baseball playoffs got a bit dramatic as Riverton, down to its final out, scored six runs in a sudden flurry at the end of the game. But rightfielder Riley Otteson chased down a deep fly ball for the last out.

Syracuse 3, Brighton 0: Starter Jake Hewitt provided the heroics on the mound in Syracuse's second win of the day, striking out six in a complete game shutout. The Titans managed only one hit and scored three runs in the bottom of the first, but it was enough to eliminate the punchless Bengals.

Syracuse 12, West 7: A 10-run inning gave the Titans all the advantage they needed to take eliminate the Panthers, despite a mighty effort at the plate from Chance Abrath. First baseman Sawyer Morain batted in three runs on the day on two hits.

Kyle Goon contributed to this story.

cphillips@sltrib.com —

Highlights

R Zac Willis hits a sacrifice fly to score the game-winning run in a 9-8 American Fork win over Cottonwood.

• Lone Peak barely holds off surging Riverton for an 8-6 win.