Mtn. View hurler back in top form

OREM — Brittany Mikalauski is back for the Mountain View Bruins' softball team, and she's taking care of business all over the field.

After missing last season with a broken foot, the senior pitcher showed good form on the mound, holding the Provo Bulldogs to six hits and only three scores in just her second game in the last two years as the Bruins won 13-3.

"She'll get even stronger and better," said new Mountain View coach Mack Fieldsted. "She's the one we'll ride all year (on the pitcher's mound)."

Mikalauski didn't just count on her stellar pitching to win the game, however, she also showed she's right at home at the plate. The pitcher smacked two singles and picked up three RBIs in addition to her five solid strikeouts and tough defense.

Mikalauski isn't the only person in a new position on the Mountain View team this year. Fieldsted took over coaching duties for Cal Jones, who is supervisor of basketball officials for the SWAC. Fieldsted was an assistant coach under Jones.

"We were lucky to have Cal for as long as we did. He's just so busy with everything," Fieldsted said about the top-notch coach's decision to leave.

In addition to the new coach and the pitcher who's finally coming on strong after missing a year, the Bruins are also starting three freshmen and two sophomores on the young but talented squad.

"We're so much more hungry and talented this year," he said after noting how his team missed the playoffs last season. "It's just a matter of how quick we mature. We're really solid behind the plate."

Behind the plate is tough Holli Cotant, a junior with an entire year behind her. The catcher smacked a two-RBI double in the fifth inning to tack on another couple of runs to the dominating Bruin performance.

She'll be counted on as the key returning starter from last year's squad.

The Bruins lost their first game of the season against Dixie last week but came back a little more grown up in their second contest of the year.

"Mikalauski took charge, and we played great defense. We did a good job bunting and running the bases, and we finally hit the ball with people in scoring position," said Fieldsted.

But the Provo Bulldogs didn't give up without a fight. Despite going down 13-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, they battled to the end and put together four singles and three runs to gain a little confidence after dropping to 1-1 this season.

Lacey Wells picked up a double, a single and an RBI for the Bulldogs in a solid game.

The game was supposed to be played in Provo, but because of bad field conditions, the two teams agreed to move the contest to the field at Mountain View.

---

E-mail: jolsen@desnews.com