ST. GEORGE – The wins keep mounting and number in the loss column remains a big ol’ zero as Snow Canyon’s softball squad keeps beating all comers.
Friday afternoon the Lady Warriors turned what was supposed to be a fierce battle between the first and second place teams into a laugher with a 7-0 domination of Pine View.
Brytni Gurney allowed just one hit, a seventh-inning single, and Snow Canyon racked up 10 hits en route to the easy win. The Lady Warriors scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back.
“We just came as a team – more like sisters – and just played our game,” Gurney said. “The change-up was working very well. I think that was my key pitch today.”
Gurney, the senior pitcher, improved to 13-0 on the season and continues her spectacular season. In her career, she has 35 wins and has also stroked 33 extra base hits with her bat.
I was thinking to myself, ‘I’ve got my team and they’ve got my back with the sticks,’” Gurney said.
Before most fans had even found a spot on the Pine View bleachers, the Lady Warriors offense had already kicked into gear. Sonya Hardy singled and went to third on a double by Grace Walton. Mitzi Gates then knocked the two base runners home with a hit of her own. The speedy Gates then stole second and went to third on a single by Gurney. SC then took an out on a double-steal as Gurney’s speed-up runner, Lacy Paxman, was thrown out at second, but Gates stole home on the play.
That made it 3-0 before Gurney had even entered the pitcher’s circle.
“Today was definitely our best game of the season,” coach Brandyn Sargent said. “We started it in the first inning and that was our goal this week, so we couldn’t be prouder.”
After that early surge, the Lady Warriors took a couple of innings off offensively, but then started to get to Pine View pitcher Kirsten Anderson. Snow Canyon scored a run in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
“The coach just says contact and relax at the plate,” said SC third baseman Shelbee Hutchings. “Contact and it will go. I just love playing with my team.”
Gurney struck out six batters and surrendered two walks, but the Snow Canyon defense was solid behind her, allowing just on error. No Pine View runner reached third base in the game.
As far as being undefeated at 14-0, Sargent said it’s not something the team dwells on.
“We literally don’t talk about it,” she said. “People talk about it and bring it up, but we don’t.”
The Warriors do have plenty of other things to dwell on, including a surging Canyon View team, which has won six straight and lurks two games back in the standings. The two teams meet Tuesday afternoon at SCHS.
The Lady Warriors, 6-0 in league play, got two hits each vs. Pine View from Hardy, Gates and McKenzie Langston. The Panthers also committed four errors.
Pine View, 14-3 overall and 4-3 in league play, plays at Hurricane Tuesday afternoon.
Hurricane 5, Dixie 3
Paisley Pearson got the win for the Lady Tigers, allowing just three Dixie hits. Hurricane had a bunch of hits itself, with 12 on the board. Cierra Stratton homered and Lexi Fancy doubled twice. For the second straight game, Dixie struggled in the field, committing two errors. Earlier this week the Lady Flyers had six vs. Canyon View.
The Tigers are percentage points ahead of Pine View for third place with a 3-2 region record (5-4 overall). Hurricane and Pine View square off at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Hurricane Valley.
Dixie, 9-7 and 2-5, has lost three straight. The Lady Flyers play at last-place Desert Hills Tuesday.
Cedar 9, Desert Hills 4
The Lady Reds improved to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in region with the easy win. Cedar takes a region bye Tuesda, but will play a non-league game at Manti. Desert Hills, 1-12 and 0-7, hosts Dixie Tuesday.
Canyon View 8, Durango, Nev. 4
Josie Platt won her seventh game of the year and the Lady Falcons won their sixth in a row. Canyon View pounded out 13 hits and scored seven runs in the first two innings, but also committed six errors.
CV, 8-7 and 4-2, plays at undefeated Snow Canyon Tuesday.
Videocast produced by Sarafina Amodt, St. George News
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