Becoming A Lone Peak Tradition.
MaxPreps Student SectionOn Tuesday, April 12, the
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) Knights Baseball team were handed their first loss of the season. The Jordan Beetdiggers were the ones who defeated the Knights by surprise. Lone Peak was the visitor up at the Jordan High School baseball field when a perfect 12-0 record turned into an almost perfect 12-1. Mike LaHargoue is in his fourth year as the Lone Peak Knights head coach. He went from region champs, to State Runner-Up, then to State Champions, and is now working on making Lone Peak State Champions for the second straight year. LaHargoue states "We still hit well even though we lost. We just have to respond to this loss in a positive way and battle back." Throughout the beginning of this year the Lone Peak Knights have shown, with their 12-1 record and the determination they play with, that they are truly one of the best teams in the state of Utah.
The state tournament is a month away and the Knights are looking like they are going to face many teams. These teams consist of the American Fork Cavemen, Bingham Miners, and possibly even the Jordan Beetdiggers. LaHargoue states, "We still have things that we have to work on; we just need to keep on getting better and better." Lone Peak teams have a history of bouncing back after shifted momentum.
Lone Peak Golf team was down by 14 strokes behind the two leaders, Syracuse Titans and Layton Lancers. Entering the final day of the 2010 state tournament Lone Peak miraculously bounced back and took the state title.
The girls volleyball team came back to win the 2010 state championship against Pleasant Grove Vikings; after losing in the 2009 title game against the same team. Just recently, the boy's basketball team lost to the Viewmont Vikings early in the year and then went on to win the 5A state title, defeating the American Fork Cavemen. Now it is time for the baseball team to do the same. Senior and second baseman,
Macay Hunter, states "This loss has strengthened our team as a whole because we have learned that we have to rely on others to help the whole team win games and we cannot do it all alone. We are a brotherhood and we have to keep playing like we are." This is what has to happen if this team wants to start and keep a new winning streak going. This team has rallied back in many games to keep their record the best in the state. LaHargoue says, "After our first loss, we talked about our preparation right before the game. I said that when we step on the field for pre-game, that is the time to get serious, and if we will do that then we will continue to be very successful."
The whole team has stepped up and put themselves in a leadership position have helped the Knights from getting discouraged. "Focusing on the good, staying positive, and always working hard to get better is the best way to succeed," says Macay Hunter. The Knights have their next game against the Lehi Pioneers at the Lone Peak High School baseball field, then the Brighton Bengals the following week. The Lone Peak Knights will have to fight until the bitter end to defend their state title. By playing together and building their team's chemistry will continue to help them reach their final goal.
