Springville softball rallies for emotional win, heads to 5A championship series
-
- Springville players celebrate after getting the final out in the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville sophomore Jax Ciliezar barely beats the tag at home to score a run during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville players and coaches celebrate after the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville senior Ryann Haveron throws a pitch during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville junior Tyler Haveron hits the ball during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville junior Tyler Haveron celebrates after getting an RBI hit during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville sophomore Allyx Haveron hits the ball during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville junior Brooklynn Richardson catches a pop fly during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- A Springville baserunner slides safely into third during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville junior Tyler Haveron tags out a Bountiful baserunner on a steal attempt during the 5A playoff game at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville seniors celebrate graduation before the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville seniors celebrate graduation before the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Salem Hills players walk off the field after the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Salem Hills freshman Samaya Haveron tags out a Bountiful runner during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Salem Hills junior Katey Keel hits the ball during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Salem Hills sophomore Jocile Norman throws a pitch during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Salem Hills senior Beau Newitt bunts the ball during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Salem Hills junior Camryn Guest catches a fly ball during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Springville senior Emma Higginson catches a fly ball during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Salem Hills freshman Leila Stevenson fires to first during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
-
- Salem Hills players prepare to take the field during the 5A playoff game against Bountiful at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
Springville senior pitcher Ryann Haveron felt an enormous amount of emotion as she stood outside the dugout at Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville after Wednesday’s 5A semifinal game against Bountiful.
And there were good reasons for it.
Earlier that day, she had joined the three other Red Devil seniors on the field before the game to celebrate graduating from high school, which is always a big accomplishment.
She had also seen her sisters, junior shortstop Tyler Haveron and sophomore first baseman Allyx Haveron, make some key plays for Springville during the game.
But the biggest reason for the strong feelings was because for the last three years she had given everything she had to see her Red Devils get a chance to win a title, only to fall short of the championship.
That, however, would not be the case in 2024.
Ryann Haveron and Springville rallied from three different three-run deficits to defeat the Redhawks, 10-7, and finally reach the 5A state title series.
“I just want to say thank you to all my teammates,” Ryann Haveron said. “It’s crazy. We’ve had this team for four years and we’ve never made it. All the work we put in to get here, it finally paid off.”
Red Devil head coach Jill Thackeray said she’s so proud to see this team make it to the championship.
“Every year they really believe that they can do it and they just haven’t been able to get over the hump,” Thackeray said. “We’ve been inches away in so many different games over the last five or six years. I just felt like we could finally get a ball to go our way. They’re so excited. I’ve never seen so much togetherness from them. It’s just so much. They want it so much and it’s so fun to be a part of.”
It wasn’t easy, though, as Bountiful was determined to give everything it had as well.
The Redhawks came out aggressive and scored three runs in the top of the first to take control. After Springville got a run in the bottom of the third, Bountiful answered with a solo home run in the top of the fourth to keep the 4-1 lead.
“We were so tight and playing not to lose instead of playing to win,” Thackeray said. “We made some uncharacteristic errors that we haven’t made really all year. We were getting runners on base but we just couldn’t get the timely hit. So the message was to be patient. It’s a long seven-inning game.”
Springville also knew that Bountiful star pitcher Ella Miller had thrown a lot of pitches over the last couple of days and felt like there would be opportunities as she wore down a little bit.
The Red Devils made a move in the bottom of the fourth, getting some key hits (including one from Tyler Haveron, who went 4-fot-5 on the day) to plate three runs and tie the game.
But the Redhawks answered with a big two-run home run from catcher Athena Tongaonevai as they scored three runs to regain the 7-4 lead.
Springville’s answer came in the bottom of the sixth, however, as the Red Devils exploded for six runs on five hits.
“The sixth inning is a great time to make it happen as the home team because then you just need to get three outs,” Thackeray said. “They were waiting for good pitches and some walks extended the inning. Then they put the ball in play and good things happen when you do that.”
Bountiful wasn’t done, though, as they put two runners on with two outs and Miller — who hit a home run earlier in the game — coming up to bat.
Ryann Haveron went right at Miller, getting the Redhawk star to hit a short foul ball that Allyx Haveron just managed to get under to end the game.
“I just screamed and cheered and jumped on her when she made that catch,” Ryann Haveron said. “It was such a relief. I was so proud of her. I almost started crying right then.”
Springville, the No. 2-seed, now advances to face rival Spanish Fork, the top-seed, with the 5A title on the line.
“If there was anyone I would want to play in the finals, it would be Spanish Fork,” Ryann Haveron said. “I want to beat them. It’s going to be fun.”
The Red Devils and Dons will square off in the best-of-three championship series at Miller Field in Provo, with the first game set for Thursday at 4 p.m.
5A softball: Salem Hills ends season with loss to Bountiful
Since Salem Hills hadn’t been able to get much going offensively in Tuesday’s 4-0 5A tournament loss to Bountiful, the Skyhawks decided to mix things up for Wednesday’s elimination-game rematch.
“We had 16 strikeouts against yesterday and we decided that we were going to try to play a little small ball,” Salem Hills head coach Kalab Stokes said. “It was working. We were getting runners on.”
Take, for example, the top of the first inning, where the Skyhawks scored a run and had runners on second and third. It was a chance to really seize the momentum.
But, as happened throughout the game, Salem Hills couldn’t find a way to get the big hit it needed.
Instead it was the Redhawks who came through when they needed to, scoring four runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to move in front and eventually get the 4-1 victory.
“You have to credit Bountiful in those spots for getting outs and not making mistakes,” Stokes said. “Really the difference in the game was the two hits they got with runners on.”
Although the loss ended their season, Stokes said he loved how his team competed throughout the season and the tournament.
“I love the fight in my group,” Stokes said. “Even to the very end we didn’t think that we were out. That’s what I loved about this group all year, their heart, their desire and their work ethic. Their work ethic is some of the best we’ve ever had. We had more wins than we’ve had in our program in a long time and we are really young. And they’re hungry.”
He hopes the underclassmen have learned that they are good enough to compete with anyone and bring that confidence to the field next season.
“This group isn’t afraid of anybody,” Stokes said. “They’re willing to go toe-to-toe with everyone. It’s a culture thing here at Salem that we expect to go compete against the best teams and don’t shy away it.”
Newsletter
High School
Four-peat: SF’s Morgan Beckstrom closes high school rodeo career with fourth state title, Haskell wins all-around
A special legacy: Timpanogos junior Aubrie Christensen honors family by winning high school rodeo queen competition
