Orem • The Bingham Miners' baseball team waltzed into the 5A state final Thursday with a 7-0 win over American Fork at Brent Brown Ballpark. It was as simple as that. At least that's how it seemed after the Miners defeated the Cavemen behind Mason Marshall's four-hit complete game performance.

"We had some disciplined hitters at the plate that got the bat on the ball at the right time, and our pitching coach called some great pitches," Marshall said. "We just got the job done today so we're ready for tomorrow."

Just like that, the Miners are playing in the state championship Friday after being bounced in the fourth round of the one-loss bracket in 2010.

What can't be perceived from Marshall's comments is that he struck out seven batters, never gave up more than one hit in an inning, never let a Caveman get past first base and never walked a batter. All the while, he was giving his lineup time to provide run support. By the time Matt Cluff singled in the bottom of the third to drive in Josh Sandquist for a 1-0 lead, Marshall had had enough.

The Miners added two more runs in the fourth and then opened things up in the fifth, when Connor Williams jumped on a curveball that he sent over the left-centerfield fence for a three-run homer and 6-0 lead. One more run in the sixth, courtesy of Kobin Courtney's RBI single, and Bingham was coasting.

"Usually when we have one or two guys step up and get a hit, we all just connect with it and just keep going," Williams said.

Bingham's Stefan Cantwell said that he will be on the mound Friday in Game 1 of what the Miners hope will be only a one-game affair. Cantwell is 7-1 on the season.

American Fork 11, Jordan 5 • It wasn't easy for American Fork to put its state title hopes on the line against Jordan 50 minutes after being thumped 7-0 by Bingham. But the Cavemen did so successfully, beating the Beetdiggers 11-5 Thursday at Brent Brown Ballpark in the 5A one-loss bracket final.

The win sets up a rematch between American Fork and Bingham on Friday that would crown the Miners as 5A champions with a win. If American Fork wins, a second game would stage a winner-takes-all battle.

"Losing was tough, but I think the character of our team shows how we can bounce back," Caveman designated hitter Tyler Flinders said.

Flinders went 3-for-3 at the plate, was hit by a pitch, batted in two runs and scored two as well. He scored the second of seven first-inning runs that opened the game up to 7-0 after one and crippled Jordan's chances. His second-inning solo home run and his third-inning RBI single helped stretch the lead.

The Beetdiggers tried mightily to keep their impressive and relatively surprising tournament run alive with a three-run fifth inning. They loaded the bases in the seventh but were unable to cross home plate again. Colton Shaver batted in two runs for Jordan, and Clay Kinahan and McCoy Hill each batted in one.

For the Cavemen, it's time to turn their attention back to the Miners, the team that just showed them exactly how championship baseball is played. Coach Jared Ingersoll didn't reveal who would take the mound in the first game tomorrow, saying that he had a couple of arms in mind. What he was sure about is that his players would be more mentally prepared on Friday than they were Thursday.

"We're not happy to [just] be here," Ingersoll said. "I think we can give Bingham a little bit better game than we showed in the first game." —

Highlights

R The Bingham Miners produce a businesslike 7-0 win against American Fork in the 5A winners' bracket final.

• Mason Marshall pitches a complete-game win in which he doesn't let a Caveman past first base.

• Josh Sandquist bats 1 for 2 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Connor Williams goes 1 for 2 with three RBIs and two runs scored.