SPANISH FORK — The Lehi Pioneers' secret weapon is in its record.
At 3-5 in Region 8 play and 8-10 overall, it's easy to overlook a team. Two teams have tried. Two teams have lost.
Lehi righthander Charlee Benson fired a complete game for the second outing in a row to lead the Pioneers, the fourth-place team from Region 8, to a 2-0 victory over Union in the second round of the Class 3A state softball tournament.
"She is awesome," said Lehi coach Lynn Allen after Benson's sixth shutout of the season. "When she's on, she's tough."
Benson's first victim was Region 9 champion Snow Canyon in St. George, where she allowed just two hits. The latest was Union, the second place team from Region 10, which managed only six hits. Lehi now faces Region 8 champion North Sanpete, which beat Tooele, 8-6, at 11 a.m. Friday.
Allen, who coached the Pioneers three years ago before taking some time off, is in his first year back since taking over the Pioneers again, and he remembers the talent this senior class had when it was young.
"I knew they could play. I knew this year, if they learned to accept me back, and let me help them, they would come around," Allen said. "They've done that. They've stayed positive and confident and luckily we've peaked at the right time . . . I knew our season would be up-and-down all year long. I expect a lot from them and as you see, they are responding."
The Pioneers scored a run in the first inning on an RBI single by Emily Pugh and then they scored another in the second inning on an error and Benson and the defense made them stand.
The Cougars worked the bases loaded in the third inning, but the Pioneers cut down the runner at home trying to steal on a passed ball. Catcher Lyndee Gillman hustled back to the screen and relayed the ball to Benson, who perfectly blocked the plate for the out.
Again in the the sixth inning the Cougars were knocking on the door, but rightfield Christie Asay charged the ball on a base hit and threw the runner out at first to end the threat.
Union starter Kayleen Rasmussen limited the Pioneers to just four hits in the game, but still suffered the loss.
No Lehi player had more than two hits. Union's Roxie Ames and Audra Morrill had two hits each.
In other second round action Thursday:
NORTH SANPETE 8, TOOELE 6:Rachel Allred went 3-for-4 with a double, homer and three RBIs to lead North Sanpete. Also, Angie DeMill went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Kristin Bleazard had three hits for Tooele.
JUDGE MEMORIAL 10, EMERY 0: Brianne Tweedy fired a perfect game and struck out 12 in leading the Bulldogs to the easy victory. Terilyn Peterson went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored.
BEAR RIVER 8, PINE VIEW 4: Tiffany Kent had a triple and Pine View committed two errors in the Bears' four-run fifth. Bear River's Tawni Fronk is out for the tournament after injuring her right hand.
E-MAIL: jhinton@desnews.com