While playing a variety of conditions – from sunny skies and warmth to wind and to cold, rain and snow – the Davis baseball team has been a difficult out this season. 

The Darts won four of their first five Region 2 contests and were 10-5 overall heading into a home game with Fremont on Saturday, April 19. At this point, Davis was tied atop Region 2 with Fremont and Layton, each with 4-1 records in league play. 

Head coach Joshua Godfrey is pleased with his team’s effort in region games. He said a veteran club and good hitting have been significant factors in Davis’ success. 

“We are a very senior heavy team with 14 seniors,” Godfrey said. “We have pitched it pretty well the season as well as played some great defense at times. We have hit 12 home runs as a team, which is more than we have hit combined the last five years, which is a testament to our offseason weightlifting program and coach Grant Huish.”

One of those home runs came off the bat of senior centerfielder Owen Talbot Wednesday at Fremont. In that contest, Talbot also hit a double and brought in three runs in a losing effort, as the Darts fell 12-6. Earlier in the week, Davis triumphed over Fremont at home by the count of 3-2 in a low-scoring battle. In the win, Chase Jones struck out three Fremont batters, while Talbot and Wally Grant each had an RBI. 

 As the region portion of the season moves along and the Darts get close to the state tournament, Godfrey is urging his players to be focused and attentive. He believes his team can contend for the league championship and be a factor at state if the players can continue to improve. 

“We have to clean up some of the small execution mistakes, bunt coverages, moving runners when there are less than two outs, making sure we locate our pitches,” he said. “If we clean those up, we will be hard out in the playoffs. Winning region is our No. 1 goal each year, and we are right there in the mix. We also advanced to BYU last year as one of the final eight teams. We believe we have the ability to be a final-four team this year if we can stay healthy and not look too far ahead.”

After Saturdays big game with Fremont, things won’t get any easier for Davis. The Darts then have a three-game series with Davis on April 22, 23 and 25. 

Farmington

Elsewhere in Region 1, Farmington is looking for win No. 1 in league play. The 2-12 Phoenix are 0-4 in region games. 

Farmington lost at home to Weber on Tuesday in a close 4-2 outing. Farmington outhit Weber 7-6 and got a solid effort from pitcher Josh Hecht on the mound. Hecht struck out four batters in a losing effort. Meanwhile, Lincoln Westlund drove in a run from the plate. 

The Phoenix were scheduled to host Weber on Friday, after our press deadline, though snow may have affected the game. Farmington begins a three-game series with Syracuse on April 22.