High school softball: Wildcats outlast T-Wolves for big victory in 4A playoffs

OREM — Though softball playoff games were suffering cancellations all around them, the Timpanogos Timberwolves were able to host their playoff game with Woods Cross on a field that didn't have any appearance of having been rained on all day.

And the Woods Cross Wildcats did tough Region 6 proud with a 4-1 victory over the T-Wolves, putting themselves into the second round of the winners' bracket against Spanish Fork on Thursday.

"We got to play. We were just happy to get the game in so that we don't have to worry, we can rest tomorrow and come out and play in the second round on Thursday," said Woods Cross coach Brittany Mills.

The Wildcats proved just how tough their region can be as they were the No. 3 seed and took on the No. 2 seed out of Region 7, easily rising to victory with four early runs.

The four runs didn't come all at once, they came across the first three innings. And after scoring a single run in the top of the first, the Wildcats had to watch the T-Wolves even the score up in the bottom half of the inning.

Woods Cross put their leadoff runner Jac Mills on base in the top of the first on a Timpanogos error, a sacrifice moved her on to second, and a single by Shae Fernandes brought home the first score of the contest.

But a single by Jodee Gonzalez, an error and a sacrifice fly by Brittany Peterson evened it all out, giving Timpanogos a dose of confidence.

That confidence suffered a blow in the top of the second when Ally McAfee smacked her first of three hits in the game with a nifty triple. She later scored on a ground out by Daphne Robinson, giving the Wildcats a one-run lead on what would become the game-winning run.

Two more Wildcat runs crossed the plate in the top of the third, just to give Woods Cross a little cushion as Natalie Parsons picked up the walk, Kelsey Plowman helped herself with a double, and McAfee picked up the RBI single.

"It's just a matter of working hard to get the girls around the bases. The great thing about this team is it's always teamwork. It's not just one amazing player," said Mills.

Several players did their jobs in this one, including the pitcher Plowman from the circle. She gave up only three hits and the single run in the game along with hitting the double.

"Kelsey does an amazing job. She trusts the defense behind her," added Mills.

Timpanogos' Kayla Atkin smacked a triple in the bottom of the third, but the T-Wolves couldn't bring another run across. They now play in the one-loss bracket.

The Wildcats have to face another of the 4A favorites in Spanish Fork in the second round on Thursday.

"We've just gotta play our game. I think we just need to believe in the kids and work toward their strengths, minimize their weaknesses. There's a lot of teams out there that can come out any day," concluded Mills.

e-mail: jolsen@desnews.com