Dons rally to edge Timpanogos

SPANISH FORK — The Spanish Fork softball team is making a habit of late-inning comebacks, a habit that has head coach Don Andrews shaking his head in disbelief.

The Dons scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to escape with an improbable 5-4 victory over Timpanogos in the first round of the 4A softball playoffs. Spanish Fork has now won nine straight games.

"We keep making mistakes that sooner or later we're not going to be able to compensate for," Andrews said.

So far the Dons have been able to pull the games out one way or another. They had a lot of help from the Timberwolves in this one, however.

Two errors and a wild pitch haunted Timpanogos in the seventh inning, as they just couldn't hold on to their three-run lead in letting victory slip away.

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"We outplayed them for six innings, then the pressure got to us," said Timpanogos head coach Randy Richins, who led his team into their first ever playoff appearance. "We fell apart in the seventh inning. Our pitching, fielding, everything fell apart."

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, the Dons pinch hit sophomore Mele Vaitohi, who ripped a single to right field to start the scoring drive.

"She's our secret weapon," Andrews said.

The Dons then followed a walk to Teresa Barney with a wild sequence the T-Wolves fans won't soon forget. Lauri Howell pounded a single to center field. The lead runner was caught between third and home. Catcher Beverly Pead caught the ball in a run-down, but when she threw to home plate, there was no one covering, allowing the Dons to score their second run of the contest. Another error on the T-Wolves allowed two more runs and tied the game at four with a runner on third.

It appeared for a moment that Timpanogos pitcher Lyndsi Hill would be able to pitch herself out of trouble as she struck out the next batter, but a wild pitch sealed Timpanogos' defeat.