PCHS Miners Baseball advances through playoffs in legendary game

Miners win their playoff game as the community bids the field a fond farewell. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — Not only was Friday the last time the PCHS Varsity Baseball Miners played on their home field, but it was also the last time any team will play there, as the field will undergo transformative construction this summer, with the sport relocating to a brand-new facility next year. The Varsity Baseball Miners team is advancing in the playoffs, which will be hosted in St. George.

The Miners defeated the Cedar Reds from Cedar High with a score of 6-4, in a most exciting game that culminated in a thrilling final play.

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The Reds were up, with two boys on base, one at first and one at second. The Miners’ dugout was banging on the walls in concert with the big crowd clapping and shouting each time a ball or strike happened.

Senior Miner pitcher Justin Michaels, who also plays on the football team, was on the mound when the Reds hitter connected with one, sending the ball in a line drive to the outfield between first and second base. Had it not been caught efficiently, the Reds could have scored their three runners home, thus winning the game with the tying and go-ahead points already on base.

Senior Miner #17 James Moran dove full-out four feet off the ground and parallel to the field, gloved arm completely outstretched and there was a millisecond of silence before he got up from the grass and in his hand had the baseball. The place absolutely erupted with exaltation as he had made the game-winning play-of-the-day, the-play-of-his-baseball-career, the-play-of-the-season for the Miners moving on in the playoffs. Moran will be attending Arizona State University majoring in Aerospace Engineering and will not be playing baseball.

The above video shows the team celebrating out at his position. There they saw his bloodied nose from the hard contact with the ground, asked if he was all right to which he responded with the heightened level of blissed-out disbelief at his perfect performance. When they gathered in the infield, the coach, whose one goal with the team back from game one of the season was to make it to “St. George!” so they shouted it out loud for everyone, and themselves to hear.

Mere minutes after he’d made the legendary catch Moran, told TownLift in between friends, family and fans high-fiving him and patting him on the back,

“I saw the ball coming right at me and it seemed like it was flying for a long time. I though I had a chance so I took a big dive out and caught it.”

His father, Brian, made his way through the crowd to put his arm around his son and give him a hug. Everyone was smiling but no one’s was wider than his. “I can’t believe he caught that ball, that thing was headed straight for the wall. That was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen.” Some tears started welling up in his eyes as he continued, “He’s like the school hero right now, that was amazing.” He didn’t have to say the words he was proud, it was written all over his face.

Friday’s home game didn’t only end emotionally, it also started that way as the first ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Matt Strader, a part of the coaching staff of Miners baseball for the last 30 years. Strader was among the staff opening the field and coached current head coach David Feasler when he was a student-athlete on this Park City High School varsity baseball team years ago.

“Matt is a legend in the baseball community, he’s still on the staff here and I love the man to death,” Feasler told TownLift fighting back tears. “I call this the Matt Strader Field and I am looking forward to the future wonderful new baseball diamond but I’m thrilled for these athletes and for Matt that we could sign off this venue, which has been great for all the players, past and present, with this big, fun win.”

Even in the middle of this special baseball game, emotions were running high when the microphone was temporarily taken from the announcer to make a moving tribute. Standing shoulder to shoulder, Park City High School’s outgoing principle Roger Arbabi and incoming principal and former student Caleb Fine spoke passionately to the crowd talking about Scott Chester. Chester has covered 500 games in his role as Miners announcer for 18 years. Chester wasn’t expecting these kind, amplified words, as this is his last game at this field as well, totally going forth with Park City to the new sports complex being built.

The principals shared that Chester was also a football coach from 2007-2011, and the attendees gave him a robust round of applause, “Scott has mentored and inspired countless student athletes and today especially we are proud to recognize Scott for his incredible commitment to Park City Sports. Thank you Scott for everything you’ve done to make these games fantastic, you will always be an unforgettable part of the Park City Miners.”

Tonight, Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. the Park City Miners varsity baseball team will have traveled to Southern Utah and will play the next round of the Utah State tournament playoffs at the field on the campus of the college Utah Tech.

The other graduating seniors on this team are: