Region 9 softball: Wind causes havoc in region-opening contests

Written by Darren Cole
March 23, 2016
Snow Canyon's Teegan Trent (2) slides in to third base safely as Hurricane's Heather Stout (11) takes the throw, Snow Canyon vs. Hurricane, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 22, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – The windy conditions were the real starts as Region 9 softball began Tuesday. The six region teams squared off in round one of 10 nights of competition. Below is a breakdown of Tuesday’s action:

Snow Canyon 3, Hurricane 1

On a super windy afternoon, this game came down to a pitching duel between Snow Canyon’s Heather Prestwich and Hurricane’s Savannah Garner.

snow-canyon-logohurricane-logo“The wind affected play on both sides,” said Snow Canyon head coach Tracee Heaton. “Both teams had some defensive errors. We were in a better position to take advantage of them.”

Indeed, two of Snow Canyon’s runs came as a result of a Lady Tiger miscue. In the first inning, Cammie Johnson scored from third as a result of a wild pitch. The Lady Warriors got another run when Taylor Gunn hit a double in the third inning to drive in Caitlyn Flowers from second base.

Snow Canyon's Sonya Hardy (21), Snow Canyon vs. Hurricane, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 22, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon’s Sonya Hardy (21), Snow Canyon vs. Hurricane, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 22, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

Hurricane halved the lead in the top of the fourth when Jayden Smith’s double scored Hayley Teta. But Snow Canyon would match the run in the bottom of the inning when Sammie Johnston scored on a fielding error by the Hurricane left fielder.

“We had some errors that we probably don’t have without this wind,” said Hurricane head coach Gordon Dotson. “But both teams had to play with it. They got four hits. We got three. Overall we played well defensively.“

The teams not only played in a fierce wind, but also a brisk temperature where the clouds blocked out the afternoon sun.

Despite some miscues, there were also good defensive plays made throughout the game. Garner faced a bases-loaded, nobody-out second inning and was able to bring the Tigers through it unscathed.

In the third inning, Tiger left fielder Smith made a running catch on Natalie Gunn’s shot to the outfield, then threw to second base to get the runner on a double play.

Hurricane's Savannah Garner (24), Snow Canyon vs. Hurricane, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 22, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Hurricane’s Savannah Garner (24), Snow Canyon vs. Hurricane, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 22, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

In the sixth inning, Warrior third baseman Sonya Hardy made a diving catch on a bunt that popped up a few feet from home plate. Hardy then rose and appeared to have caught the runner at first base, though she did not get the call from the base umpire.

Prestwich came away with the win, striking out eight and allowing three hits.

“The wind required some adjustment,” said Prestwich. “But I was able to put the ball where I wanted, for the most part. “

Snow Canyon moves to 6-0-1 overall and 1-0 in region play. Hurricane drops to 8-5 overall, 1-0 in region. The Warriors will play at Dixie on Mar. 30. The Tigers will host Enterprise Wednesday. Game time is 4 p.m.

Pine View 9, Dixie 6

The Lady Panthers got another all-star performance from Addi Horspool. She pitched a complete game, allowing only five hits and striking out nine. She also led Pine View with three hits and five RBIs.

pine-view-logodixie-logoThe game looked to end early when Pine View jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four. Dixie matched the Lady Panthers run total in the sixth with two apiece and then rallied to score four in the top of the seventh.

It was the fifth win in a row for Pine View. The Lady Panthers move to 6-3, 1-0 in Region 9. They will host Enterprise on Friday in a non-region game. Dixie moves to 2-9, 0-1 in region. The Lady Flyers will host Canyon View Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Cedar 11, Desert Hills 9

Desert Hills had their nine-game winning streak snapped up in cold, windy Cedar.

cedar-logodesert-hills-logo“The wind was blowing in from the south to start the game,” said Cedar head coach Chris Weaver. “It then shifted and blew the other direction and Desert Hills took advantage of that and made a big comeback.

When Abby Anderson hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth inning, the score favored Cedar 11-2.

“We got 17 hits in the game,” said Weaver. “We were hitting the ball hard.”

Desert Hills began their comeback in the fifth inning. Starter Brighton Holyoak was slightly injured. “She got a hip flexor,” said Weaver. “I let her stay in for one more batter. That batter hit a three-run homer to make the score 11-5.”

Weaver brought in Sage Oldroyd to relieve Holyoak. The Lady Thunder hit three more home runs over the final three innings but could not complete the comeback.

Desert Hills falls to 10-3, 0-1 in Region 9. The Thunder will play at Hurricane on Mar. 30. Cedar moves to 4-5, 1-0 in region. The Lady Reds will play at Enterprise on Thursday.

BASEBALL
Cedar 8, Payson 5

Cedar raced out to a 7-0 lead through three innings and then was able to weather a Lions rally to record the win.

cedar-logoKyler Carrizosa pitchede the win on the mound in the game. The Redmen had seven extra-base hits, including triples by Bracken Yardley and Rykker Tom and two doubles each by Drake Lewis and Travis Tait. Yardley also doubled as Cedar racked up 15 hits.

The Redmen, 5-4, next play at Richfield Thursday afternoon (3:30 p.m. start). Payson falls to 4-4 on the season.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darren Cole recently returned to sportswriting after a 20-plus year hiatus. While pursuing other studies, he developed an early passion for sports writing as a senior writer and sports editor for the Ricks College Scroll in 1988-89. Darren has spent the last 20 years writing legal memorandi and appellate briefs. In addition to his legal career, he has also taught legal and criminal justice courses at the university level for nine years as an adjunct professor. Darren is married to wife Lisa, has two sons and is a confessed sports junkie.

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