High school softball: Uintah goes small for key region victory

PAYSON — It was all about the small ball when the Uintah Utes took on the Lions on the Payson softball diamond Friday afternoon.

And small ball gave the visiting Utes a 5-0 victory and a 3-1 record in tough Region 8.

The Utes had taken a slim 1-0 lead in the second inning but weren't comfortable with such a minuscule advantage and went to the short game when the sixth inning rolled around. After they took that tactic, the Lions didn't have a chance.

"We came into the game trying to smash it, but we weren't hitting, and the game dictated that we had to go to small ball. We had three bunts in the inning," said Uintah coach Lee Schulz, whose team has the ability to either hit the ball all over the field, or if that isn't working, to use its immense speed to its advantage.

"It's easy when we've got the speed we've got," Schulz said about beating out bunts and using every opportunity to take an extra base.

"It makes our team hard to beat when we can play both ways. Most teams fall apart when they're not hitting, but when we're not hitting we have options," he added.

And they definitely used those options. After Maddy Robb reached base on an error in the second inning, pitcher Taylor Craven knocked her in with the RBI single.

But the Utes weren't comfortable with just the one-run lead, though it ended up being enough.

One reason for the discomfort was the fact that Payson leadoff hitter Jessica Uresti doubled to the fence in the bottom of the third and missed a home run by just inches.

But the sixth inning changed the entire complexion of what had been a pitcher's duel and a defensive showdown until that point.

Uintah leadoff hitter Brooker Migliori started everything off with a single. Whitney Johnson reached base on a double, and both players started their trek around the bases with steals.

After a strikeout signaling the first out, Robb loaded the bases with a walk of her own. Then it was up to Chanel Pace, who singled up the middle, bringing home two runs in the process. Craven reached on a bunt single, and Melyse Hodgekinson put down another bunt. The Lions tried to get the runner at home but were too late, leaving everybody safe and putting the Utes' fourth run across the plate.

Uintah added another in the top of the seventh on another single by Migliori, a walk to Maddy Schulz and an RBI single by Robb.

Craven was stellar from the circle, only allowing Payson four hits in the affair.

"She had eight strike outs and hit her spots well. Her velocity is up. She's our pack mule. She's the ace," said Schulz.

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