High school baseball: Union pulls past Grantsville for 2nd 3A title in 3 years
May 16, 2026, 2:04 PM | Updated: May 18, 2026, 9:26 am
KEARNS — Union’s baseball team grew accustomed to playing tight games during the 2026 season.
The Cougars played 13 games decided by three runs or less through Saturday’s 3A state championship at Gates Field, which may account for the No. 1 overall seed’s 10 losses on the year.
So when Union took an early advantage in the second game of Saturday’s season finale, the pressure was all off.
Ryan Oakey scattered three hits with 12 strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game shutout, and Union scored 12 runs in the seventh inning to cruise to its second 3A title in three seasons with a 14-0 win over Grantsville.
Leadoff hitter Gannon Labrum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored to pace Union (19-10) at the plate, and Tyson Marx and Brennen Mecham each slugged two RBI on two hits for the Cougars.
Dylan Watahomigie had four RBI and a run scored for Union, including a bases-loaded double in the seventh that turned a 2-0 advantage into a 14-0 rout.
“That was a heckuva last inning for us on offense. I’m just happy to finish it, and to get it done in seven,” said Oakey, who mixed up his fastball and curveball with increasing effect.
He’s not alone; the Cougars thrive in close games.
“This group believes in each other,” Union coach Matt Labrum said. “They don’t feel like one guy has to do everything; if they mess up, they know the next guy will be ready to go. They’ve played together for a long time, and it’s been fun to watch their development, their growth, and how we grew as a team this year.”
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After a 12-run deluge in the final frame, Oakey only wanted one thing more than a title: the chance to finish it.
“He wants to finish; he gets mad if he goes out,” said Labrum of the junior starter. “He’ll always ask me, am I at pitch count? Him and Dylan both; they want to finish the game, if they can. And I say, then you’ve got to be more effective earlier in the innings.”
Oakey was plenty effective early — and he got plenty of support.
After surviving the Cowboys 7-6 on Friday to take a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-three championship series, Union jumped out to an early advantage with two runs in the first inning and gave Oakey all the run support he would need.
“When we got that 2-0 lead, it really boosted my confidence,” Oakey said. “I love pitching with a lead; getting those two runs felt like nothing could stop us. And I knew we were going to add on from there.”
But the Cougars weren’t done, scoring a dozen runs on three doubles, four RBI singles and a pair of bases-loaded walks in the seventh inning to pull away for good.
“We talk a lot about barrels being contagious. If we hit a ball hard, it seems like the next guy is ready to go,” said Labrum, who admitted to feeling “a lot” more pressure as the No. 1 overall seed compared to two years ago. “We got that first barrel, and it kept snowballing; it was fun to watch the guys come up with a lot of confidence.”
Added Oakey: “It was awesome, watching them get it to the next guy. We had freshmen and seniors who haven’t played at all this year come in and do great. They started a roll, and did exactly what the coaches expected of them.”
Leadoff hitter Dylan Fawsom had two of the three hits for Grantsville (24-6).
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 Kearns, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Photo: Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
3A final game 1: Union holds off Grantsville for early advantage
Gannon Labrum had a home run and two RBI as Union held off Grantsville, 7-6 in the first game of the best-of-three 3A baseball championship series Friday at Kearns’ Gates Field.
Tyson Marx drove in a pair of runs for the Cougars (18-10), who got five strikeouts from winning pitcher Dylan Watahomigie.
Patton Rose had a double and four RBI to lead Grantsville (24-5), who try to even the series Saturday at 10 a.m. MT. If the Cowboys win, a winner-take-all third game will follow later in the day.
