Spanish Fork nips Payson in pitchers' duel

PAYSON — Pitching and defense ruled the day as Bridgett Miller and Sandy Marvin battled from the mound in Spanish Fork's 2-1 victory over Payson in Region 6 softball.

The two pitchers gave up a total of four hits as the Dons took out the Lions for the second time this season, leaving Spanish Fork undefeated in league action with only two games remaining. The No. 1 Dons go up against No. 5 Springville next Friday in the final game for both teams, a game that should decide the Region 7 championship if both teams win earlier games next week.

"It'll be a good game," said Spanish Fork coach Don Andrews. "It'll be for all the marbles. I don't like those half marbles.

"We've had them the last two years," he added about sharing the region title with Payson the past two seasons.

Payson struck first in this one as Marvin hit a high fly ball to center field, which was dropped and led to four unearned bases for the Lions' pitcher and the first run of the game with no outs in the first inning. Payson's Chelsey Potter then smacked the only Lion hit of the game with a single to left center. Spanish Fork's defense then got it together and Miller took charge from the mound, allowing only one hit, no runs and striking out nine in the contest.

But the Dons were only able to pound out three hits of their own, two coming by Mele Vaitohi, who doubled in two runs in the top of the fourth for the game-winning RBIs. Lauri Howell hammered the only other Spanish Fork hit of the game just before that, and Jessica Anderson reached on an error to set up Vaitohi's heroics.

"When Mele hits the ball it goes somewhere," Andrews said.

But overall, the coach wasn't impressed with his team's performance from the batter's box.

"That was the poorest job of hitting our team has done in a long, long time, but I think some of it had to do with (Marvin's) pitching. If we hit like we did tonight, we won't be in the (state) tournament very long."

Marvin gave up three hits while striking out five and forcing the Spanish Fork bats into many popups.

"I think our bats could have done better, but Sandy pitched a good game," Miller said. "I thought our defense was awesome."

In other prep softball games Friday:

REGION 3