High school baseball: Late offensive explosion seals the 3A state title for Union
Union celebrates after defeating Grantsville 14-0 to win the 3A baseball state championship held at Gates Field in Kerns, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News The top-seeded Union Cougars claimed their second state title in three years with a late offensive explosion in Game 2 of the 3A championship series on Saturday. Leading 2-0 heading into the seventh inning, the Cougars tacked on a stunning 12 runs in the top of the seventh to seal the deal against the Grantsville Cowboys.
While Union jumped out to a two-run lead in the first inning and its offense put the game out of reach late, it may not have mattered too much with senior Ryan Oakey on the mound. Oakey pitched an absolute gem, a complete game shutout. He allowed just three hits against a Grantsville squad that came in averaging over 10 runs per game in the 3A playoffs and also struck out 11 Cowboy batters.
“I felt really dominant with my fastball,” Oakley said. “They couldn’t catch up to it, and then my curveball, they were fooled by it every time. “I just felt like I could go back to either of those and they couldn’t touch it.
” Union pitcher Ryan Oakey (23) pitches during the seventh inning of the second game of 3A baseball state championship against Grantsville held at Gates Field in Kerns, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Union celebrates after defeating Grantsville 14-0 to win the 3A baseball state championship held at Gates Field in Kerns, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Union celebrates after defeating Grantsville 14-0 to win the 3A baseball state championship held at Gates Field in Kerns, on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
| Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Union’s Dylan Watahomigie (24) celebrates after hitting a double during the seventh inning of the second game of 3A baseball state championship against Grantsville held at Gates Field in Kerns, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Union’s Clay Wade slides in safely to home plate during the seventh inning of the second game of 3A baseball state championship against Grantsville held at Gates Field in Kerns, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Union pitcher Ryan Oakey (23) reacts after the final out as Union defeats Grantsville 14-0 to win the 3A baseball state championship held at Gates Field in Kerns, on Saturday, May 16, 2026.