Close call: Spanish Fork withstands Riverton rally in 5A tourney

RIVERTON — Spanish Fork coach Don Andrews is an old-fashioned, no-nonsense guy. He doesn't like hot-dogging, he doesn't tolerate mistakes and, most of all, he hates close games.

Anyone who knows the coach could see just how uncomfortable he was watching his softball team eke out a win over Riverton in the 5A playoffs Thursday. The game was a nail-biter from start to finish, but the Dons held on to win the seesaw battle, 7-6.

"I can't stand games like that one," said Andrews. "I only feel secure if we're up 15-0 or 18-0. Anything less than that makes me worry."

The thrilling finish had nearly everyone on edge. The Dons watched their three-run lead cut in the seventh on a two-run homer by Ku Haimin. It wasn't until relief pitcher Whitney Holm struck out Kelsey Baldwin that Andrews and company could finally celebrate.

"The whole time I was thinking 'please don't let them get two,' " said Andrews.

Spanish Fork got off on the right foot when freshman Tina Ferguson hit her fourth home run of the season, putting her team up 1-0 at the end of the first. Riverton answered right back, however, when Carly Oliverson took advantage of an error and stole home, knotting the score at 1-1.

The teams remained deadlocked at 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth, when the Dons found their rhythm. Jessica Anderson led the way with a single and two RBIs, while Jessica Chapple contributed one of her own an inning later.

The Silverwolves, however, refused to quit. Taking advantage of a few errant pitches and a handful of fielding mistakes, they staged a rally of their own in the top of the fifth, tying the game at 4-4.

"They're a well-coached team," Andrews said of Riverton. "They never gave up. All game long, they just kept bouncing back."

Ferguson, however, made sure the Silverwolves' initial comeback was short-lived. She drilled the opening pitch of the sixth, sending it well over the fence for her second home run of the day. The hit got the Dons rolling, and by the end of the inning they sat atop a 7-4 lead.

"That homer was bigger than huge," said Andrews. "I don't know what else to say."

Ferguson's timely home run gave the Dons just enough breathing room to fend off Riverton's last rally.

---

E-mail: tquinnx@desnews.com