SANDY -- The Alta softball team didn't intentionally play against some of the best teams in the country last weekend just to prepare for its region opener against Mountain View, but it didn't hurt.
The second-ranked Hawks rallied from a 2-1 deficit with a three-run sixth inning to defeat third-ranked Mountain View 4-2 in a Region 3 game Tuesday. The win came on the heels of a 13th-place performance for Alta (1-0) at the 40-team Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Ariz."We didn't have a weak game down there," said Alta assistant coach Butch Latey. "We've worked on our hitting and getting longer through the ball at practice, but seeing the good pitching down there helped today."
The win gave Alta a leg up in the region standings over the Bruins, but Mountain View coach Mike LaHargoue wasn't too concerned with a loss this early in the season.
"It doesn't hurt us a lot because it's early and it was at their place," LaHargoue said. "Whoever takes third in this region has got a good shot at taking state."
Alta head coach Vaughn Alvey was forced to observe from the stands while serving a one-game suspension for being ejected from Alta's last game in Arizona. He watched as the Hawks used last weekend's experience to finally get to Mountain View pitcher Shannon Lewis.
Lewis had allowed just one earned run this season, but he surrendered four runs on eight hits to the Hawks. Lewis did give the Bruins (1-1) a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after she singled to center to score Ali Roberts.
The Hawks tied the score in the bottom of the fifth when Amanda Kendzior scored on a bloop single.
With two on and two out in the sixth, Mountain View's Kira Goeringer singled to center to score Roberts, but Haley Larsen was thrown out at the plate on the play to keep the Hawks within one.
Alta's Kate Peterson doubled to left to open the bottom of the sixth, who then scored to tie the game on a single by Alli McMillan. Kendzior later followed with a two-out single that drove in two runs for a 4-2 lead.
Nikki Andersen, who relieved Cami Carter in the sixth inning, struck out the side in the top of the seventh to lock up the victory.
"Alta is tough defensively and Cami did a good job of keeping us off balance," said LaHargoue. "Then Nikki came in, and we made her look like Cy Young."
Carter allowed just two hits while striking out four Bruins.