Region 10 softball: Warriors, Flyers, Thunder win; Canyon View edges Cedar in nonregion game

Written by E. George Goold
March 31, 2022

ST. GEORGE — Some key matchups in Region 10 softball played out around the area Tuesday night as teams battled to gain ground in the standings. 

Snow Canyon went to Crimson Cliffs and posted a convincing win, while Dixie’s bats erupted in a big victory and Desert Hills edged Cedar.

Following are recaps of Tuesday’s Region 10 contests, in addition to Cedar’s nonregion loss to Canyon View on Wednesday.

Snow Canyon 7, Crimson Cliffs 4

Jenna Thorkelson toed the rubber for Snow Canyon while McKenna Cahoon stood in the pitcher’s circle for Crimson Cliffs, and both were dominant early.

With rain falling at first pitch, the teams battled to a 1-1 tie.

Crimson Cliffs and Snow Canyon in a Region 10 softball game, Washington, Utah, March 29, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Snow Canyon took advantage of two fielding errors by Crimson Cliffs at second base to plate a run, then the Mustangs tied it with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the second inning.

The stage was set for the Warriors when they loaded the bases in the top of the fourth. Alyssa Staheli stepped up and crushed Cahoon’s offering for a grand slam. 

The Mustangs answered right back in the bottom of the frame when Emma Shakespear connected for a solo homer to cut Snow Canyon’s lead to 5-2.

But Staheli, a freshman, struck again in the top of the fifth. Her second home run in the game gave the Warriors a comfortable 6-2 lead.

“She’s awesome,” Snow Canyon coach Markay Thorkelson said about Staheli. “We know that that younger class has a lot, and they’re bringing it every day in practice, they push our older girls a ton.”

“Nothing much else to say about Alyssa, she’s amazing and able to just up there and do her job,” Thorkelson added.

Crimson Cliffs didn’t go away and Ellie Herd smacked a home run to get the Mustangs within four at 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

And then back-to-back doubles by Ashten Taylor and Afton Roberts scored a fourth run for Crimson Cliffs to provide the final margin in the bottom of the seventh.

Snow Canyon improved to 3-0 in Region 10 play and is 8-5 overall.

“We try to keep our girls level-headed and down to earth with everything that they’re doing, just playing ball,” Thorkelson said. “We’ve had quite a few injuries that we’re dealing with, but the girls are stepping up and doing their job.”

After the setback Crimson Cliffs slipped to 2-1 in region play and is 11-2-1 overall.

Dixie 18, Pine View 8

Dixie scored 10 runs in its half of the first inning and cruised to the five-inning win at home.

Debra Tofi picked up the pitching win for Dixie. Seven different Flyers had at least one RBI for the winners. 

Tofi led the way from the plate as well with two doubles for Dixie and four RBIs. Vanessa Scarborough plated three RBI’s with her double and triple.

Reese Monson and Alivia Arp both knocked home two Dixie runs in the win.

Mckelle Jepson hit two doubles for Pine View and drove in three to lead the Panthers. Brecken Heath had two RBIs.

Desert Hills 4, Cedar 1

Desert Hills scored one run in the second inning and three in the fourth to win a close game at home against Cedar.

Kailey Chamblee was the winning pitcher for the Thunder while Alexandra Aiken had two RBIs for Desert Hills. Skyler Cooper also had an RBI for the victors.

Lexus Ludlow had a double and an RBI for Cedar, which fell to 0-3 in Region 10 play.

Wednesday’s game

Canyon View 9, Cedar 8

At Canyon View, the Falcons defeated their crosstown rival Cedar Reds in a non-region contest Wednesday afternoon.

Kamryn Allen hits the ball, Cedar at Canyon View, nonregion softball, Cedar City, Utah, March 30, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar got off to an explosive start, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, including a grand slam by Kodi Nelson.

However, Canyon View answered with four runs in the bottom of the first, with the Falcons hitting four singles during the rally. Canyon View then took the lead for good in the second inning, scoring three additional runs on four more singles to give the Falcons a 7-5 lead.

Cedar’s Lexus Ludlow belted a solo homer in the third to bring the Reds within one run, 7-6, but Canyon View added two runs in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to three, 9-6. Getting RBIs for the Falcons that inning were Kamryn Allen, who hit a sacrifice fly to right, and Sidney Webster, who followed with a double.

Cedar managed to get two more runs over the final three innings, scoring on a fielding error in the fourth and Nelson adding a solo home run with one out in the seventh.

However, Canyon View senior Kenlee Clove struck out Cedar’s last two batters to preserve the narrow victory. Starting pitcher Payton Lister picked up the win for the Falcons, while Cedar’s starter Paytyn Houston took the loss. Elli John pitched 4 1/3 innings of strong relief for Cedar.

“I was pleased with the combined efforts of our pitchers tonight,” Canyon View head coach JR Robinson said of Lister and Clove. “Although they gave up a few home runs, for the most part they were able to induce ground balls and pop flies.”

Robinson said the Falcons’ defense supported the pitchers’ efforts with solid play in the field

“Offensively, we were able to manufacture enough runs to get ahead and keep the lead,” Robinson added.

Canyon View, which plays in 3A’s Region 12, improved their record to 6-7 overall with the win, while Cedar dropped to 6-8.

St. George News/ Cedar City News reporter Jeff Richards contributed to this report.

Photo Gallery

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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!