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Spanish Fork Press
The national rankings and undefeated season are over for the Dons varsity softball team after losing last week to Pleasant Grove. But, mentally this could be a good thing to have happen for the Dons especially with the state playoffs coming up here soon. They learned that they must stay focused for every game.
Last Tuesday was the last region game for the Dons against Timpanogos. They came out perhaps trying too hard after their defeat last week, and it took awhile for them to get back into the swing of things, but as the game went on they began to settle in for the win against the Timberwolves 10-2, and earned the title of region champs for 2008.
Timpanogos came out energetic with hopes of upsetting the Dons like Pleasant Grove had done the previous week. The T'wolves knew that they had nothing to lose in this game. They got base hits out of their first two batters of the game, and drove in a run with another hit later in the inning before the Dons could put them down. This seemed to fuel their fire and enthusiasm even more, which was hard for the Dons to turn around.
Junior Cami Robinson started in the circle for the Dons. After allowing the three hits in the 1st inning, she settled down in the 2nd inning striking out the first two batters, and forced a ground out to shortstop. She pitched well into the 6th inning allowing a few more hits, but kept the T'wolves scoreless before tiring and being relieved. The Dons held the Timberwolves scoreless for innings 2-6 with respectable pitching, and a hard nosed defense. Dezlee Roberts came in as a relief pitcher in the 6th inning, and Whitney came in to finish off the last batter of the game in the 7th inning.
Two double plays were made. The first double play was in the 5th inning, when Whitney Holm fielded a hard ball at third base, whipped it to Ashley Chappel at second, who immediately turned the throw to first baseman Lindzee Thurgood for the second out.
The second double play came with bases loaded. The ball was hit back to the pitcher, Dezlee Roberts, who got it to catcher Tina Ferguson, which prevented the run from scoring. Ferguson then gunned down the runner going to first for the second out that ended the 6th inning.
Offensively, Lea Adamson hit in a run with a hit up the middle in the 1st inning, and Ashley Chappel got on with a single and was drove home on a double, hit by Whitney Holm in the 3rd inning.
After five innings of play the Dons were only up 2-1. At this point, the T'wolves figured that they had a chance for a victory. However, the Dons thought otherwise in the 6th and 7th innings, as they began to bust things wide open.
In the sixth, Aly Tingey got on with a single, and Lindsey Healey walked. Junior Kylee Bufton then stepped up to the plate and hit a soaring shot over the left field fence for a home run scoring three more runs. This brought the score to 5-1 after six innings of play.
At the top of the 7th inning, the Dons padded their lead. Katelyn Elliott and Aly Tingey got on with walks, and Dezlee Roberts got on with a single. Lindzee Thurgood drove in two of the runners on a hit to right center field. With two runners on base, Bufton stepped up again and hit another home run just inside the left foul line, scoring three more runs. Bufton's back-to-back home runs accounted for six of the teams 10 runs.
Timpanogos began to rally in the bottom of the 7th inning, scoring a run with two outs. Coach Andrews took no chances and brought in his ace pitcher to get the last out and to seal up the victory.
With this 10-2 win, the Spanish Fork Dons became the champions of region 4. The region 4 trophy was presented to the Dons, and the celebrating and photo session began.
5A Dons Upcoming Varsity Schedule
5/13 State Tournament TBA
5/15 State Tournament TBA
5/20-22 State Tournament @ Valley Complex TBA
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