Spanish Fork softball gets defensive to defeat Box Elder, return to 5A state title series
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- Spanish Fork senior pitcher Lucy Evans throws a pitch during the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork players celebrate after winning the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- A Spanish Fork baserunner slides into second base during the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork freshman Jayeda Carter bunts the ball during the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork sophomore Lia Higginson catches a fly ball during the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Box Elder players congratulate Spanish Fork players after the 5A playoff game at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork senior Alyce Archuleta hits the ball during the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork junior Jade Romero catches a pop fly during the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork players celebrate graduation ceremonies before the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork seniors celebrate graduation ceremonies before the 5A playoff game against Box Elder at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove players hug after the 6A playoff game against Riverton at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove players talk things over after the 6A playoff game against Riverton at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove players celebrate after junior Keslie Draney (15) hit a home run during the 6A playoff game against Davis at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Keslie Draney throws a pitch during the 6A playoff game against Davis at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
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- A Pleasant Grove batter hits the ball during the 6A playoff game against Davis at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
The Spanish Fork softball team barely escaped with a dramatic 10-9 win over Box Elder in Tuesday’s second game in 5A bracket play, but it resulted in a more determined effort when the two teams met again on Wednesday with a spot in the championship series on the line.
“It was absolutely a wake-up call,” Don head coach Natalie Jarvis said. “We needed to make some adjustments. Today was a total team effort. Yesterday we were going through the motions a little bit but today they came out to win.”
That was particularly true for Spanish Fork senior pitcher Lucy Evans, who knew the Dons could do better than they did on Tuesday.
“We just wanted to come in rested, come in ready to play,” Evans said. “It was a special day because of graduation, obviously. We were just trying to leave it all out on the field.”
Jarvis said that she reminded Evans that these moments are what she has worked for.
“I did say to her yesterday that she has been waiting on the bench for three years for this opportunity,” Jarvis said. “She’s been an incredible teammate, and she’s been riding behind (former Spanish Fork star pitcher Avery Sapp) for three years. Lucy has a lot to offer and I think she was like, ‘you’re right, I have been. I’m going go out and lead my troops.’ I think she just had that mindset to take charge and go get the win for her team.”
Evans did just that, keeping the Bee bats quiet for most of the game as Spanish Fork earned the 4-1 win and the spot in the title series for the fourth straight season.
“It was pretty surreal to get that last out,” Evans said. “It was just so fun to get to fulfill that dream and just take the team as far as we can get. That’s not something that many times. And finally I get to do it from the field instead of the dugout.”
Spanish Fork still needed to come up with some big plays, particularly on defense.
The most dramatic was in the top of the third with the Dons up 1-0 and Box Elder had the bases loaded with two outs. The Bee batter hit a fly ball to shallow centerfield, resulting in Don shortstop Jade Romero backing up while centerfielder Lia Higginson came charging in.
As the ball dropped, it looked for a split second like there might be a collision, potentially allowing multiple runs to score for Box Elder.
But Higginson managed to call off Romero at the last moment and make the catch before tripping over her teammate, ending the threat.
“I knew they would work it out,” Evans said. “Even if they trampled each other, I knew one of them was catching that ball. But I was glad no one got hurt and we got the out.”
Jarvis said that such a scenario would frequently make a coach nervous but she was confident in Romero and Higginson.
“Those two have a really good relationship,” Jarvis said. “Normally when you see that happening it might make you sick to your stomach, but I knew those two were good. They communicate really well.”
With Evans throwing good pitches and the Spanish Fork defense getting outs, four runs was plenty to get the job done and get the Dons a chance to defend their title once again.
“It’s where we want to be and everybody wants to be,” Jarvis said. “It just means the world to me. It means that they deserve to be where they set their goals to be. I’m so proud of them.”
Spanish Fork, the No. 1-seed, will face rival Springville, the No. 2-seed, in the best-of-three 5A championship series, which will take place at Miller Field in Provo. The first game will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
6A softball: Pleasant Grove hammers Davis, loses to Riverton in semifinals
There are times in softball where teams which they could keep extra runs from one game and use them in the next.
Pleasant Grove likely felt that way during Wednesday’s 6A bracket play contests as the Vikings smashed six home runs in a Game 1 defeat of Davis, 15-5 in five innings, but then found themselves on the wrong end of a 16-5 five-inning decision in Game 2 against top-seeded Riverton.
“We went on a run against Davis,” Pleasant Grove head coach Leslie Young said. “We couldn’t miss. But then we lost our mojo a little and ran out of steam. Like we are, Riverton is a tough team top to bottom. That’s just the way it went.”
While the Vikings would’ve loved to have kept things rolling, Young said her squad should be enormously proud of what they accomplished.
“This is the best season we’ve had thus far,” Young said. “We ended up with a top-four finish. There was a lot of good chemistry this season. This is the most complete team I’ve ever put together with pitching, hitting, and defense. You add chemistry on top of that, and we’ve just been fortunate. It allowed us to really go on a run this year.”
She credited the senior class for raising the bar for Pleasant Grove softball.
“We’re losing girls who have been some of the biggest impact players we’ve had,” Young said. “But there are a lot of underclassmen who are ready to step into those positions.”
Riverton advanced to the 6A championship series to face Bingham, starting on Thursday Miller Field at BYU.
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