3rd-stringer's hit puts Lone Peak in 4A tourney

HIGHLAND — In a game of winner-takes-all, Lone Peak found a way to score late on a tough opposing pitcher for a 2-1 victory over Timpanogos that landed the Knights in third place in Region 7 and secured a spot in the state 4A softball tournament.

Both teams entered the final game of the regular season with 2-5 records, knowing that a loss meant they'd go home.

Lone Peak's Tami Peterson and Timpanogos' Ali Bramwell both came to play as their pitching and solid defense ruled the first four innings of the contest. Neither team could find a way to score on the two pitchers, who hurled eight strikeouts each.

Though the Timberwolves found a way to hit five singles off Peterson, they only managed one run, which came in the fifth inning. Bramwell knocked a grounder to the shortstop but beat out the throw hustling to first base. Hayli Duke knocked in the only Timpanogos run of the game with a single down the third-base line. Duke also made some tough defensive plays to save Lone Peak hits throughout the contest.

"The only way we could have lost that game is by errors, the way Ali was pitching," Timpanogos coach Randy Richins said. "Our region's been so tough; it's sad we don't get more than three teams in, but we'll be fine. We have a young team."

Bramwell pitched a no-hitter through five innings before the Knights could get a hit. Laura Goodrich got the bat on the ball and knocked a grounder up the middle to end the no-hit bid.

A Timberwolves' error on a throw to first base put runners on second and third, and Jena Sears dropped a single into short center, which, aided by another error, scored the game-tying run.

The Timberwolves couldn't score in the seventh. Bramwell then hit Brittany Buck with a pitch, and third-string second baseman Ashley Taylor hit one down the third-base line for the winning run and a ticket to the state tourney.

"We're very excited about it. Making the state tournament has been a definite goal for us," Lone Peak coach Jena Lowry said.

Starting second baseman Shaelie Dorius is out for the year with an injury to a hand that will require surgery, and second-string second baseman McKenzie McEwan couldn't play because of nagging injuries, which gave Taylor the start.

"She's mentally tough and athletic with great leadership on the field," said Lowry of Taylor.

Said Richins: "We played well at the beginning of the season, and we played well during the season, but we can't get the key hits when we need them."

The Knights beat the Timberwolves 3-1 in a seventh-inning comeback earlier this season, which gave them the extra victory they needed to make the tournament.

In other prep softball games Tuesday:

REGION 7

MOUNTAIN VIEW 14, PLEASANT GROVE 1: Mountain View made quick work of Pleasant Grove, ending it quickly in five innings.

REGION 10

JUDGE MEMORIAL 10, WASATCH 2: Heidi Jones made two great throws from right field as Judge rolled past its Region 10 rival.