Tigers upset Bruins with big fourth inning

OREM — Orem used a four-hit fourth inning to take it to No. 3 Mountain View in the heated cross-town rivalry between the two Region 7 leaders.

The Tigers finished the contest with a 3-2 upset to remain undefeated in league play, while handing the Bruins their first league loss.

After taking the one-run lead in the second inning on a Nadia Carter RBI single after the Bruins committed two errors and put runners at second and third, the Tigers didn't have much time to celebrate.

Mountain View scored its own run in the top of the third, though they didn't record a hit in the inning off Orem pitcher Devrie Downey, who looked solid in throwing nine strikeouts, and giving up only two walks and four hits.

Mountain View catcher JaNae Wright picked up the RBI on a ground out to second, which scored an aggressive Katie Welling.

"If we play tough behind Devrie, we're not gonna lose many games," said Orem coach Paul Clark about his star pitcher. "I don't know any reason she won't be able to take us all the way."

He noted that Downey has only given up four earned runs all yearlong in her fourth year as a starter. She's part of the "heart and soul" of his team, along with fourth year starting catcher Marsha Heimuli.

"We're not going to be surprised with anything we do, we're going to expect it," said Clark, who is planning to retire at the end of the season.

Orem took the 1-1 tie into the bottom of the fourth, and Jamie Layton immediately hit the ball hard up the middle for the single. The hit was followed by an error and a single by Karin Leichty to load the bases with no outs. Carter came up to bat and promptly hit another grounder right up the middle for her second RBI of the contest.

Leadoff hitter Delyse Downey then showed the hitting prowess she displayed when the Tigers traveled to a tourney in Las Vegas last week and knocked the single to left field for the final RBI. The Tigers then left the bases loaded, recording three straight outs.

"Delyse was our leading hitter in Vegas. She's getting better every day," Clark praised. "For a ninth grader she's great. She's also got a strong arm. She's one of the best in the state in her age group."