Tooele, moving into 4A, sets sights on state title

Watch out for the stampede of the Buffaloes.

The Region 7 softball challengers sent Lehi on up to 5A at the end of last year only to add one of the toughest teams in the state in any classification in the Tooele Buffaloes. And those Buffaloes not only want to make a splash at the region level, they want to take their fifth state championship in the last six years. Whether it's 3A or 4A makes no difference.

Once again Dixie State-bound Lauren Folta will lead the Buffaloes from the circle, and unlike most of the other teams in the valley, Tooele will count on its pitching and defense because many of its bats are young and inexperienced. Matti Snow will back up Folta in the circle and provide one of Tooele's toughest bats. Kelsey Mendenhall and Brittany Gonzales will also be counted on heavily in the lineup.

"When we get to the top of the lineup, we're confident they'll come through. We're pretty deep. It's a matter of staying confident but not being overconfident," said Tooele coach Barry Pitt.

But it isn't just Tooele that has big plans for this season. The Springville Red Devils finished second at state in 4A last season and bring back seven of their nine starters from that team. If they can get past the early part of the season and get everybody healthy, they could give the Buffaloes a real run for their money.

"We've been a little rusty so far this year," said Springville coach Karl Jensen, who noted that he's had seven girls out with injuries so far in the early going.

He'll be counting heavily on pitchers Sarah Clark and Kandace Kirkham. A strong hitting lineup will also be a huge plus as sophomores Brittany McCray, Nikki Brailsford and Aria Agle's bats should come in handy, as should Clark's, Holli Averett's and Keeli Chalk's.

But if Springville is in the hospital ward, Payson is providing its own rendition of a triage unit as the Lions just lost Chantae Ballard for what could be the rest of the season with a broken hand. Pitcher Brittany Adamson is on her way back from an ACL tear.

Payson wants to be in the mix at the top with a young bunch led by pitchers Rikki Christensen and Taelyr Stevenson and the hitting prowess of freshman phenom Jessie Uresti.

Of the four remaining teams that coaches in the league believe will be in a dogfight for the final playoff position, the Timpview T-birds seem to have the upper hand in the early going with Alisha Talk in the circle and Susan Vogtman in the batters' box.