Time to lead: Spanish Fork softball senior pitcher Lucy Evans ready for responsibilities
-
- Spanish Fork sophomore Audrey Overturf slides safely into home during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Spanish Fork senior pitcher Lucy Evans throws a pitch during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Spanish Fork senior pitcher Lucy Evans hits the ball during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Spanish Fork junior shortstop Jade Romero catch a pop fly during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Spanish Fork players congratulate junior Jade Romero after she hit a home run during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Lehi freshman Piper Emery hits the ball during the non-region game against Spanish Fork in Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Spanish Fork sophomore Audrey Overturf slides into second base during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Lehi senior pitcher Emerson Fuller throws a pitch during the non-region game against Spanish Fork in Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Spanish Fork senior Alyce Archuleta steps up to bat during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Lehi players laugh together in the dugout during the non-region game against Spanish Fork in Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Spanish Fork players encourage their teammates from the dugout during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Lehi players talk things over between innings during the non-region game against Spanish Fork in Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
-
- Spanish fork players high-five Lehi players after the non-region game in Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
For the last few years, Spanish Fork pitcher Lucy Evans has had limited opportunities to showcase her ability in the circle for the Don softball team.
The reason for that was that Spanish Fork had the best pitcher in the state, Avery Sapp, taking the bulk of the pitching duties.
But Sapp is now contributing to the UVU softball team, which means now its Evans’s turn.
“It’s super fun,” Evans said Tuesday after she led the Dons to an 8-1 win at Lehi. “I’ve kind of been the team mom the past few years, so I was kind of just in charge of everyone. I’m excited to be able to just come out there and pitch for them. It is really fun.”
Spanish Fork head coach Natalie Jarvis said that she has had moments where she’s watched Evans throw great pitches that surprised her a little bit because she spent so much time watching Sapp in prior seasons.
“Lucy has the talent and she has great pitches,” Jarvis said. “But she has been behind the top pitcher in the state. It’s fun to see her kind of come into her own. She wants it really bad. She wants to go out and control the game, to dominate.”
The Dons have a tradition of great pitching and so there is pressure on Evans to take on that role — but she said she doesn’t mind.
“The pressure is definitely there, but I like to think of pressure as a privilege,” Evans said. “I just kind of embrace the pressure and charge right at it.”
Tuesday’s game against a solid Pioneer squad demonstrated her approach.
Things were a little rocky in the early going and Evans surrendered a run in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1. But she didn’t let that faze her as she held Lehi scoreless the rest of the way.
“My rise ball was working today and my curve was on too,” Evans said. “Liv (senior Olivia Carroll) caught a great game. She was framing the pitches really well for me. And my defense is really solid so can I just let them do their thing.”
She also got some significant help from the Spanish Fork offense, spearheaded by junior shortstop Jade Romero.
Romero put the Dons up for good in the top of the third when — after sophomore Lia Higginson hit a double — she blasted the ball over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run.
She then helped extend the lead in the top of the fourth. Spanish Fork sophomore Audrey Overturf hit a bunt single and stole second, again giving Romero a chance to bring in a runner in scoring position.
The Don junior hit a single up the middle, which proved to be just enough for Overturf to get home. Lehi tried to get Romero out at second but the ball ended up in centerfield and she was able to come home on the error.
That proved to be plenty of offense, although Spanish Fork added a few more insurance runs.
“Our girls came out ready to play and ready to hit,” Jarvis said. “Lucy came out a little cold and it took her a little bit to get going but when she did, she did very well.”
Lehi found itself in an unfortunate situation before the game when head coach Tim Kennedy got hit by a baseball that was fouled off of the nearby baseball field and missed the game because he needed to get stitches. The Pioneers (5-2-1) still battled and had some chances but came up short.
The victory improved Spanish Fork’s record to 5-2 on the season, with hard-fought losses to Riverton and Desert Hills.
“I felt really good about the way we played,” Jarvis said. “I think we come out as competitors. I feel like we’re a young team, but I think we’re a young team in our depth. They are still learning.”
Evans said she feels like Spanish Fork has a solid start but has to continue to improve.
“I think our communication could probably step up, just making sure we’re supporting each other,” Evans said. “Jumping on the bats and scoring early in the game I think is also going to be a key for us to get where we want to go.”
Spanish Fork will turnaround and host Payson at the Spanish Fork Softball Complex on Wednesday, while the Pioneers head to Grantsville for their next game on Thursday.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
Newsletter
High School
O jogo bonita: Skyridge’s Kalena Bellini savors chance to play for Brazil U17 national team
Make it work: Spanish Fork softball comes up with all the big plays in win at Springville
