Climbing Mount Everest is not on the to-do list of the West Jordan Jaguars baseball team although taking on the defending state champions in its first Region 3 matchup this season could be compared to making that climb.

The Jaguars had a strong beginning to their pre-season, despite a 6-5 loss in their opening game against Highland. They rebounded to clobber East, 27-3. Senior Tristen Peterson collected the win. 

In other pre-season games they beat Cyprus 2-1. Senior Alex Pace scattered four hits and struck out two. The Jaguars took the lead in the bottom of the fourth by scoring two runs. Parker Stiefel had two hits, including a single to drive in Ronnie Yengich. Dylan Krans singled in Peterson to cap off the scoring. 

In it’s Region 3 opening series against Jordan, they were swept in three games: 15-5, 8-4 and 10-2.

“We played a good Jordan team and were not at our best. We are going to be just fine,” Peterson said. 

Before their regular season opener, the team traveled to St George and participated in the Desert Hills Invitational March 13-14. They earned a split in the four games. Beating Carbon 8-3 and Northridge 12-1 and lost to Desert Hills 5-4 and Cedar 13-3.