Softball roundup: Flyers grab final playoff spot with win at Pine View; Video highlights

Dixie at Pine View, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2014 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — As it turns out, Dixie would’ve gotten into the playoff through the backdoor. But why take the back when it’s so much more fun to kick in the front door.

The Lady Flyers rallied from three runs down to beat Pine View 8-5 Friday afternoon at Panther Field, grasping a firm hold on the final playoff spot and the No. 4 seed from Region 9 in the process.

softbPine View led most of the game after plating a pair of runs in the first inning. It stayed 2-0 with Panthers pitcher Jordan Gosik, in a game dedicated to her father Jason, who is battling bone marrow cancer, pitching brilliantly. Pine View even tacked on an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI double by Kayla Hammond made it 3-0.

But Dixie put together a rally and tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth. A PV error brought the first run home and Summer Simkins doubled home the second. She then scored on a fielder’s choice by Mikie DeKorver to even the score.

Pine View regained the lead at 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Kam Becker reached on an infield single, a ball she hit deep in the hole between third and shortstop, and Gosik scored.

Summer Simkins, Dixie at Pine View, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2014 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News
Summer Simkins, Dixie at Pine View, St. George, Utah, May 2, 2014 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News

Down to its last three outs, Dixie wasted no time in responding in the seventh. Hannah Nyberg was hit by a pitch and then Shelby Holt and Stacia Gelter both laid down beautiful bunts that resulted in infield hits. With the bases loaded, Simkins again delivered, ripping a single to left to tie the game at 4-4.

A batter’s interference brought about the first out of the seventh, but DeKorver again reached on a grounder that PV tried to go home with, but the throw was late, giving the Flyers their first lead of the game. at 5-4. Another PV error brought Gelter home and made it 6-4, then Amanda Young singled home two more and the Flyers had knocked home five in the inning.

Pine View did a get a run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late.

The Flyers, 9-12 overall and 6-6 in region, will head to Payson in the first round of the playoffs. The Lions, 16-6 overall, host a four-team pod and will face Dixie at noon on their home field.

Pine View, 8-13 and 3-9, graduates just two seniors and looks to be strong in 2015.

Video produced by Dallas Griffin

Snow Canyon 4, Desert Hills 2

Shelbee Hutchings, Sonja Hardy and Mada Mooring all hit home runs and Heather Prestwich pitched a complete game as the Warriors finished region with a 9-3 record.

SC, which finished just a game behind co-region champions Cedar and Canyon View, will have to settle for the No. 3 seed and will go on the road in the first round of the playoffs. The Warriors will most likely play Juab, with the two teams meeting at noon at Tooele High school, the host of the pod. The Buffaloes won Region 11.

Cedar 6, Hurricane 2

The Lady Reds won their fifth straight and finished in a tie for the region championship, but get the opportunity to host a four-team pod by winning the coin toss with Canyon View.

Cedar, 13-9 and 10-2, will host Carbon at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cedar High. Canyon View, 16-4 and 10-2 as well, will travel all the way to Uintah to take on North Sanpete (most likely) at 10 a.m. Saturday.

FINAL REGION STANDINGS

Region 9
W
L
RS
RA
pct.
W
L
RS
RA
pct.
Canyon View 10 2 109 34 .833 16 4 189 77 .800
Cedar 10 2 98 55 .833 13 9 157 137 .591
Snow Canyon 9 3 112 51 .750 13 6 169 82 .684
Dixie 6 6 72 78 .500 9 12 114 144 .429
Desert Hills 4 8 72 107 .333 9 12 134 177 .429
Pine View 3 9 58 85 .250 8 13 146 162 .381
Hurricane 0 12 32 143 .000 4 16 96 212 .200

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.