Coaching carousel in Utah County

Next season Payson High will replace head baseball coach Scott Haney with current assistant Shawn Johnson. Haney is leaving to take the coaching position at the new Salem Hills High. Payson is still looking for a soccer coach and volleyball coach for next season.
Spanish Fork assistant track coach Jesse Kovatch will step in as a co-head coach next season when current coach Bart Thompson moves over to Salem Hills. Kovatch will coach the Dons in short sprints and the relay teams.

Former Springville football coach Doug Bills is back with the Red Devils and is leaving Union after one season as head coach. This time, however, Bills will be the defensive coordinator for Springville under new coach Scott Mitchell. Bills is currently an assistant baseball coach with Springville and will likely return to the school as a teacher. Former Provo football coach Ed Larsen will also be one of Mitchell's assistants and will become the school's weight training and conditioning teacher.

Former prep stars progressing

Former Pleasant Grove Viking Jordan Smith has compiled a 2-1 record while pitching for the Sarasota Reds this spring. Sarasota is the high-A affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds.

Former Springville star Mark Pawelek, a first-round pick of the Chicago Cubs three years ago, remains in extended spring training and will likely be assigned later to either Boise or Peoria.

Five on the rise

Baseball: Mountain View
The Bruins went through the first half of Region 7 baseball without a loss, thanks mainly to their offense. The Bruins are averaging 10 runs per game in league play, and that includes a game in which they only scored two runs.

Soccer: Brian Hale
In helping the Lone Peak Knights to a 3-1 record in Region 4 soccer, Knights goalie Hale has only given up two goals in the four league games and only three goals in Lone Peak's last six games.

Soccer: Springville
The Red Devils lead Region 7 boys soccer by a mere point simply by the fact that they have yet to finish a game in a tie. The Red Devils either win or lose. Two of their five league wins came in overtime, and both of their league losses came in overtime.

Baseball: Brett Lopez
There's good reason why opposing coaches don't want to see Timpanogos' Lopez in the batter's box. Lopez has had an extra base hit in nine of his team's 14 games, with eight doubles, two triples and a home run.

Track: Spanish Fork
The Dons' track team has been dominant this spring, mainly behind the sister-duo of Natalie and Nachelle Stewart. But they are also getting strong efforts in field events. In last week's Utah County Invitational, Liz Meinhard won the long jump, Kelli Roach the javelin and Natasha Sanborn the discus. Spencer Fausett and Bret Howell finished 1-2 in the boys javelin.