High school softball: Bear River blanks Canyon View, reaches 3A title game

ST. GEORGE — Jordan Theurer's pitching was crucial in the Bear River Bears' 3A state tournament matchup with Canyon View on Friday evening. But in the end, it was her bat that made the game-changing play.

A ground-rule double in the top of the sixth inning broke the scoreless tie and lifted the Bears to a 2-0 victory, clinching a spot in Saturday's championship game at Little Valley Fields.

"The way we've been hitting the last two weeks, I thought we'd break it up at some point," said Bear River head coach Calvin Bingham. "But I've got to give Canyon View credit, they played a terrific game."

Both teams put a handful of runners on base through the first five innings, but neither squad had a player touch third until Theurer went to bat in the sixth.

First, Morgan Summers reached base safely with a bunt and then advanced to second with a delayed steal. Theurer sent her home with an RBI-double that bounced over the centerfield fence.

First baseman Shaunie Owen tacked on a single, sending Theurer home for the Bears' second run and a 2-0 advantage.

"I had butterflies the whole game," Theurer said. "I just told myself we had to have somebody hit the ball so it was good timing, I guess."

The Falcons weren't going away easily. They put together rallies in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, forcing Bear River to stay on its toes on the defensive side.

"There were three really critical plays for us," Bingham said of how the Bears held on to the lead. "One was when Canyon View had a runner on third and they hit that little blooper that my third baseman (Erin Fox) picked up and threw out at first."

That play, which was made with runners on second and third, ended the inning for the Bears.

The second crucial play came with Canyon View's Ginessa Delange on base and Kenzie Sawyer up to bat. Sawyer hit a double to left field, where Bear River's Marlee Mecham scooped up the ball on one hop and fired it home. Catcher Tyree Haramoto was waiting three feet up the base line to make the tag out.

Finally, shortstop Kelli Smart stretched out behind second base to catch a line drive in the tip of her mitt and end the game.

"They were just outstanding plays," Bingham added.