Spanish Fork should once again run away with the Region 4 title with no questions asked. It has been the team to beat for years and will continue to be so until someone actually does.

That being said, the rest of the region consists of some solid if not spectacular teams that could knock each other around during the region season with the teams suffering the fewest bumps and bruises coming out of the fracas and into the playoffs. The five teams beneath the Dons are so closely matched that each and every game could be a surprise to someone.

With the infusion of Lehi into the league field, the quality of play notched up and will be more entertaining than ever.

Some teams have been putting up better records than others during preseason action, but once Region 4 starts, watch out, the bats will come out swinging.

But, of course, the bats that will be connecting the most will be those of the Dons, who will once again fight with great talent and intensity for an undefeated region mark and some momentum heading into the playoffs.

"What makes a team good is when you can have different heroes in every game," said Spanish Fork coach Don Andrews about his team. And the Dons are packed with heroes from the pitching staff, which consists of Cami Robinson, Deven Baum and Whitney Holm, to the tough-as-nails defense, to the blazing offense.

The Dons will once again throw a powerful lineup at people led off by Tina Ferguson. Then opposing pitchers will have to pick their poison as they face Ashley Chappel, Katelyn Elliott, Holm, Lea Adamson and surprising Aly Tingey, among others.

The T-Wolves have been ripping up the preseason with improved batting, and now they have their No. 1 pitcher back in Shiri Stevens. They'll be tough competition for the rest of the league, but they won't be alone.

American Fork is coming in with a solid lineup as Sandra Nessler and Shelbi Peterson lead a group of athletic stars, including some Caveman basketball players that are transferring over well to the diamond.

The Pioneers will be fielding youth, but always talented youth in Lehi as versatile Marci Gray and top pitcher and hitter Ariel Zimmerman lead the way.

Yet another powerful lineup propels the Vikings as they hope to contend for the playoffs yet again behind the bats of Whitney Giles, Camille Lines, Haley Engemann and others who step into the batters' box.

Lone Peak will be counting on the pitching and hitting of Raven King and some powerful hitting by Jeni Keller to make a playoff run.

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Region 4 softball

SPANISH FORK DONS