Bountiful

Top-ranked Spanish Fork and No. 2 Bountiful met in the 5A state softball championship May 25-26 with the Redhawks hoping to dethrone the two-time defending champion Dons squad. Game 1 proved to be a pitchers’ duel between two of the state’s top aces in Spanish Fork senior Avery Sapp and Bountiful senior Eva Stoddard with the duo combining for 20 strikeouts in a 1-0 Spanish Fork win. 

In Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series May 26, the teams were deadlocked in a scoreless 0-0 tie through four innings before the Redhawks scored three runs in the top of the fifth. But, the Dons answered back with five runs and three more in the sixth to pull away with an 8-4 victory. 

Melissa Turpin and Frankie Galena both drove in runs in the loss.

To begin the 5A state tournament’s bracket play, second-seeded Bountiful beat Stansbury 3-2 May 23, coming back from a 2-1 deficit late to pull out the win.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, junior Jaci Alvey hit a two-run homer to lead the Redhawks while sophomore Ella Miller threw eight strikeouts in the win on the mound. 

Against Springville May 23, the game was postponed due to extended lightning and a rain delay and continued the morning of May 24. After five innings, the Redhawks tied things up and the game went to extra innings. In the top of the ninth, the Red Devils scored a run before the Redhawks responded with two in the bottom half of the inning to pull off a 3-2 win.

Senior Eva Stoddard struck out eight Springville batters in the nine-inning outing while also helping herself at the plate with an RBI. Junior Melissa Turpin also drove in a run in the win.

With a berth in the state championship series on the line, Bountiful faced Salem Hills May 24 and came from behind to win 5-3.

Stoddard came into the game to relieve Miller on the mound in the third inning – with the Redhawks down 3-0 – and pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out nine batters.

Isabeau Hoff’s first home run of the season proved timely with a two-run blast which tied the game at 3-all in the fourth inning. Two innings later, Bountiful scored two runs on doubles by Miller and Athena Tongaonevai as well as a ground-out RBI by Frankie Galeana.

Miller and Stoddard were the team leaders on the mound and at the plate for the Redhawks as Miller recorded a 9-1 record and Stoddard 14-4. They combined for 66 RBIs on the year while junior Athena Tongaonevai drove in 26 runs and Turpin added 24.

Also on the BHS squad that went 24-5 this season were senior Ashlyn Watson; juniors Mylie Burnes and Frankie Galeana; sophomores Isabeau Hoff, Abby Oreme, Alivia Trump and Claire Yates; and freshmen McKinley Duryea, Aimee Moore and Kamryn Rasmussen.

Bountiful’s Jaci Alvey (with sunglasses) consoles Claire Yates after the 8-4 loss to Spanish Fork in the Best-of-Three Series of the second State 5A Championship game at BYU. The Redhawks took home the Second Place trophy against the Dons. 

                                                                                    Photo credit Roger V. Tuttle

Farmington

In the 6A state tournament, Farmington lost to Herriman 17-0 May 23. The Phoenix team was down 7-0 after the first inning and managed just two hits as a team – by seniors Elle Mortensen and Riley Eckhardt in the loss.

In the one-loss bracket, Farmington faced West May 23 and came out on top 8-3. The Phoenix got out to an early 6-1 advantage and added two more runs in the final inning.

“After our loss against Herriman we refocused and pushed being all in for every pitch against West,” said head coach Haleigh Mortensen. “The girls did that. They brought their bats and came to win.”

Junior Lexi Crowley’s three RBIs led Farmington with senior Lisa Rasmussen (two RBIs), Mortensen (one RBI), senior Kate Hansen (one RBI) and junior Nev Carrasquel (one RBI) also producing offense in the win. 

Bountiful’s Catcher Athena Tongaonevai collides with First Baseman Jaci Alvey (16) but manages to grab the ball at the last moment. Despite excellent defense Spanish Fork outscored the Redhawks 8-4. 

                                                                                   Photo Credit Roger V. Tuttle

Against Skyridge May 24, the Phoenix lost 8-3. Farmington scored first but were down 4-1 by the end of the first inning and managed just two more runs in the middle innings.

Carrasquel, Mortensen and Rasmussen drove in runs in the loss.

“We battled and chipped away as best we could,” Mortensen said. “The girls really brought it all on the field and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The Phoenix squad’s season ended with a 12-7 record.

Seniors Courtney Christiansen and Lisa Rasmussen led the team with 25 RBIs each while Crowley added 24. Junior Madison Kelker recorded a 12-4 mark on the mound with a 4.59 ERA.

Also on the FHS squad this season were seniors Kiley Gazafy, Eva O’Brien; juniors Hannah Barton, Ryann Bennion and Lilly Nielson; sophomores Lola Ogzewalla and Brooklyn Wright; and freshmen Ruby Andrus, Claire Hansen, Megan Hoskins, Leah Pease-Johnson, Ella Nielson, Morgan Rogers and Rylin Toone.