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Spanish Fork players form a tunnel for graduating players, who were honored in the 5A state softball tournament at Valley Complex in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Springville softball players pose for photos during a graduation ceremony in the 5A girls softball tournament at Valley Complex in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Maple Mountain players form a tunnel for graduating players, who were honored in the 5A state softball tournament at Valley Complex in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills, the No. 1 team in the 5A softball tournament, celebrates a home run at Valley Complex on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Spanish Fork head softball coach Natalie Jarvis spent most of her career with the Dons not going to the traditional high school graduation.

But she had a good reason. It’s because her girls have almost always been in the middle of their state playoff run when graduation rolls around, so they’ve celebrated with a special ceremony for the seniors on the softball diamond prior to playoff games.

This year, however, was somewhat unique even for Jarvis.

That’s because three rival schools from southern Utah County all made it to bracket play at Valley Regional Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Tuesday, which was when their graduations were scheduled. That meant that Spanish Fork, Maple Mountain, and Springville all held their special graduations simultaneously prior to the the first pitch being thrown out.

“Like I said to the girls, I said to be here is such an honor,” Jarvis said. “Maybe they love going to graduation, I don’t know, but to me it will never get any better than that. To be here playing the game that’s been most of their lives and then to end that chapter (of high school), it is pretty cool to do it on the field. I had a great group of seniors and I was so proud of them.”

Jarvis said that even though it’s a special moment for the softball players, the ending of the high school chapter of their lives does have an impact when they take the field for the games.

“It does make a difference,” Jarvis said. “But this group of seniors for me was just very focused and very driven. We’ve had our challenges this year for sure but they have just been rocks for everybody.”

The Dons started off strong and defeated Hunter, 10-4, in the first game, but then struggled to get the offense going in Game No. 2 against a very good Box Elder team and lost, 6-1.

“I felt like they played with a lot of heart, and I’m just proud of them,” Jarvis said. “I’m proud that we’re here today, proud that we’re coming back tomorrow. There was a lot of fight in the way they played, and they executed what I had asked them to do. So, overall, I’m very proud of them.”

Spanish Fork now prepares to take on the Golden Eagles in an elimination game to start things off on Wednesday, with the winner then needing to defeat Box Elder twice to reach the 5A state championship.

“We’ve got to win one at a time, and just want it more,” Jarvis said. “That’s what we’re down to is just do we want it more than our opponents? It’s so what, now what? That’s kind of where we’re at. So what we lost. Now what are we going to do to come back?”

Maple Mountain lost to the Bees in the first game of the day on Tuesday, 13-3, then bounced back to knock off Hunter, 9-5, to set up the rivalry rematch up with the Dons.

On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded Salem Hills cruised through its first two games, beating Springville, 7-0 and then rolling past Westfield, 13-1 in five innings.

The Red Devils had to battle in their elimination game against Clearfield, but ended up getting the job done and winning, 2-1.

Now Springville will face the Longhorns with the Skyhawks waiting for the winner with two chances to reach the title series.

The bracket play portion of the 5A softball tournament will wrap up on Wednesday at Valley Regional Softball Complex in Taylorsville starting at 10:30 a.m.

Bracket play also took place for the 6A tournament starting on Tuesday, which included Westlake and Lehi, but the games concluded after the Daily Herald’s press deadline.

For complete details from the tournaments, go to UHSAA.org.