The Spanish Fork High Dons know the ticket to a fourth-straight state title in Utah: Pitching, and lots of it.
Photo by Dave Argyle
Under Jim "Shoe" Nelson's guidance, Spanish Fork High School went 29-3 last season and won its third-straight Utah state title. The Dons also won the prestigious Big Dugout Classic and finished with a Top 10 ranking in most national polls, including a No. 6 ranking by MaxPreps.
In the last seven years, Spanish Fork has won five state titles. So it's obvious that Nelson is synonymous with success. The American Baseball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year for a midsize school (between 1,599-800 enrollment) has earned his spot atop Utah's baseball scene.
His secret? Pitching. Lots of it. And then more pitching.
His top four pitchers from his 2011 state title team return for a run at a fourth-straight title. Add four others who would be the No. 1 or 2 on most of Utah's high school baseball teams, and the newest Mighty Don edition appears to be once again very mighty.
Kayden Porter, Spanish Fork
Photo by Dave Argyle
Nelson said his top three could go in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
Kayden Porter (
The MaxPreps Junior of the Year last season), Hayden Nielsen and Brady Corless have scouts drooling. Porter has signed with North Carolina, Nielson with BYU and Corless is the focus of several big-time schools.
Porter, 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, has been clocked at 97 mph. Despite it being the middle of the basketball season, radar guns caught him at 93-94 mph at the recently held Baseball Academy Showcase.
Porter was 9-1 and struck out 89 batters in 59 innings in 2011 as the Dons won their second-straight 4A title. Nielsen was 11-1 as a junior after going 7-0 as a sophomore. Nelson says Nielsen's control is pinpoint. He can rev it up to 88, but is all about location.
Corless was 5-0 as a sophomore after going unbeaten as a freshman. Nelson says he also throws in the 90s with good control, a good slider and a good change.
Somewhere in the top four is Andy Perkins. He throws in the upper 80s as well and has the best curveball on the team.
Then there's Jake Meservey, who uses his 6-4 frame to reach 85-86. Add sophomore Bennett Bradford (88 mph) and Ben Talbot (mid 80s).In 27 years as head coach, Nelson's teams have won 507 games and lost only 162. Ten of his former players have been drafted, including the Phillies' Tyson Brummett and the Nationals' Tyler Hanks. Seventy-five of his formers have competed at the collegiate level and 47 of them have received all-state honors.
He's also coached All-Americans Casey Nelson (BYU), Adam Duke (Oregon State), and Brock Duke (Utah).
Local look: "Spanish Fork has built a baseball tradition for two reasons - coaching and community support. How often can you say you have a head coach and assistant coach who have coached for more than 20 years at the same school? It's unheard of nowadays. Put great coaches with a community that supports and loves baseball and you get a Spanish Fork. A remarkable program, one of consistency and success.
- Neil Warner, Daily Herald
