High school softball: Riverton's Carter stifles Miners

SOUTH JORDAN — It wasn't until after Monday's practice that the Riverton coaches even thought about pitching sophomore Karlie Carter against defending 5A state champion Bingham.

"We'd already told Sami (Powell) that she was pitching," said Riverton head coach Emily Bateman after the Silverwolves earned a 2-1 win over Bingham Tuesday. "My assistant coach Bre Smith came to me and said she just had a gut feeling we should go with Karlie."

Her rationale was sound as Smith pointed out that Bingham had faced Powell the last seven times the two region-rivals had met.

"She said, 'What about doing something different?'" Bateman said. "I totally trust my assistants, and the girls trusted us to make the call. We told Karlie when we got here, 'You have five minutes to warm up. We're going with our gut.'"

The result was a thrilling victory that gives Riverton a two-game lead over the favored Miners, as they lost their region-opener to Hunter.

"Karlie pitched a great, great game," said Bateman. "Sami came in and did everything we needed her to do. We needed six outs and she got them."

All of the game's runs were scored in the first inning. Senior Sandi Bowles was walked to start the game and then a bunt by Trina Gomez moved her to second. A Bingham error allowed Gomez to get on base and then Bowles stole third. Bowles scored on an overthrow, and then Gomez crossed the plate on Jordan Taylor's single.

It was senior shortstop Kelsi Hoopiiana who led the Silverwolves' defensive effort with some spectacular plays, including a diving catch on a fly in left field.

"She makes everything look easy," said Bateman of Hoopiiana. "I don't know if you can teach that."

Hoopiiana said she wasn't worried when the coaches announced the last-minute change.

"We were confident," she said. "We have confidence in Karlie Carter."

She grinned at Carter, who responded, that she was both nervous and excited to be facing the Miners intimidating line-up.

"The tight games are fun," Carter said. "It is a little less nerve-wracking when you have more runs."

Bingham pitcher Tori Almond only allowed three hits and struck out 13 batters.

"In the long run, this tough region will make us all stronger," Miners coach Mickie Jacson said. Playing without two of her starters, she said the weather has made finding consistency tough for the team.

"After every mistake, I was proud of how they came back and fought," she said. "With nine errors in a game like that, I told them, 'Your physical errors did not kill you; it was our mental game.'"

One of the best defensive moments for Bingham was when, with the bases loaded and no outs, Almond and her defense buckled down and got three straight outs to hold Riverton in the fifth inning.

Hoopiiana summed up the Silverwolves feelings after the victory on the Miners' home field.

"It feels really good," she said.

Her coach couldn't agree more.

"It feels good because this region is so tough," Bateman added. "Every game counts. Every game is that important."

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