PLEASANT GROVE — As softball catchers go, Becky Gwilliams wouldn't intimidate Kermit the Frog.
At 5-foot-nothing, the Pleasant Grove senior is no monster behind the plate — physically, anyway. But take her head-on, in a full sprint from third base, and chances are she'll sustain the collision, tumble backward and bounce up holding the ball.
Especially when it matters most, like it did Thursday. With Orem's Nicole Stratton bearing down on her, attempting to score the tying run in the second-round 4A state playoff game, Gwilliams took the throw from shortstop and hunkered down as Stratton barreled into home.
"I thought, 'I'm not letting her score,'" Gwilliams said.
She didn't, providing the difference in Pleasant Grove's 2-1 win. The Vikings advance to a quarterfinal matchup with (Lone Peak-Spanish Fork winner) when the tournament resumes Tuesday, at Cottonwood Complex.
Orem drops into the losers' bracket, where it will face Lone Peak.
"You'll never find a better catcher in the state," Pleasant Grove coach Jeff Wilson said. " . . . People always look at her size and don't realize how good she is."
A catcher since she was 10 and a three-year starter for the Vikings, Gwilliams shrugged off her clutch old in the fifth inning.
"It's happened before," she said, "so it's not anything new."
What was new for her Thursday was a powerful day at the plate. Punchless of late, she pulled off the game's other decisive play: With Orem up 1-0 in the third inning, she hit a two-out double — turned into a triple on an error — to drive in the Vikings' first run and ignite a momentum surge the Tigers wouldn't overcome.
After Gwilliams' hit, second baseman Rachel Hartgrove completed the Vikings' rally with another left-field triple, this time scoring pinch runner Erin Glazier.
In other Class 4A state softball action Thursday:
MOUNTAIN VIEW 9, BOX ELDER 6: The Bruins ripped the Bees pitching staff for seven runs in the sixth inning to rally to victory.
ROY 11, OLYMPUS 4:Makenzie Holt went the distance as the Royals topped the Titans in a 4A playoff game. Roy led 11-0 after four innings.
SPANISH FORK 2, LONE PEAK 1:Bridget Miller only allowed one run in seven innings of work as the Dons eked by the Knights.
PLEASANT GROVE 2, OREM 1:
CYPRUS 1, AMERICAN FORK 0:Adie Sandall fired a no-hitter and fanned 12 to lead the Pirates. She allowed only two A.F. runners to reach base - one was hit by pitch and the other walked. Monica Miller drove in Cyprus' lone run with a sacrifice fly.
PAYSON 3, BOUNTIFUL 0:Tami Tuttle's two-run triple in the fifth inning along with Candice Forsey's commanding pitching helped Lions eke out the victory. Forsey only allowed one hit.
BONNEVILLE 7, WOODS CROSS 0:Jackie Roberts tossed a complete game one-hitter with 19 strikeouts, including 11 straight to start the game as the Lakers cruised. Natalie Pugmire went 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored to lead Bonneville's offense.
MURRAY 2, TIMPVIEW 1: The Spartans staved off elimination with the win over Timpview.