The West Ridge Academy Fighting Eagles advanced to their first 1A baseball semifinal in three years Tuesday behind a near-no-hitter by starting pitcher Will Sprowls.

West Ridge beat Bryce Valley 10-0 in five innings in the state quarterfinals played at Spanish Fork. Sprowls retired 15-straight batsmen after a controversial single by Bryce Valley's leadoff hitter. Coach Jamie Keefer said the hitter popped up to shortstop, who lost the ball in the sun. If that was ruled an error, Sprowls would have had a no-hitter.

Regardless, the Fighting Eagles are two wins away from the school's first 1A title.

"There's not only motivation to keep going," Sprowls said, "but to be able to take that state ring home."

Friday's semifinals will be played at Utah Valley University's Brent Brown Field in Orem. West Ridge will play at 2 p.m. against Panguitch, which beat Tintic Tuesday. The other quarterfinal winners, Wayne and Tabiona, will face off at noon.

"I just think today we came out and we wanted to get some respect," Keefer said. "Hopefully we did. I told the boys you have to go out and get it. They won't just give it to you. "

Panguitch 8, Tintic 2 — Dalan Bennett struck out 12 and offensively was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple as last year's 1A runners-up earned a return to the state semifinals.

Wayne 21, Green River 0 — The defending 1A champion Badgers won their 11th straight game and advanced to the semifinals to play Tabiona.

Tabiona 12, St. Joseph 2 — Cameron Van Tassell batted 2-for-3 and Demont Nay was 2-for-2 for Tabiona, which advanced to its first baseball semifinals behind five strong innings from pitcher Cameron Van Tassell.

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