TAYLORSVILLE — Warrior sophomore Diana Phillips wasn't worried about laying down a bunt in her first at bat against the defending 5A state softball champs.
"I was just worried that since (Alta's) pitcher was faster than any we've played against for a while that it would go too far — which it did," the sophomore said. Taylorsville defeated the Hawks, 1-0, in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. A wide throw to first base would get Phillips to second. Then with two outs, Phillips on third base thanks a sacrifice bunt by Marci Pratt, senior Erika Moulds stepped to the plate. With two strikes, Moulds hit a fly to short centerfield and Phillips scored the game's only run.
"I had so much faith in her," she said grinning at her teammate. "She did it against (two other teams) this year. I get on base, she hits it to center, and I score. That's what she does. I'm so stoked."
Phillips and company are stoked because for the first year in quite a few seasons, they don't have to play as many games to get to the semifinals. The Warriors have had the daunting task the past three years of trying to work their way through the loser's bracket, where a team must win six games in three days to make it to the championship game.
They have come close, but couldn't quite get to that final game. This is the fourth year in a row they've relied mostly on the arm of pitcher Leslie Higley, but Thursday night she had to rely a little more on them. She only had three strike outs, but the defense was stellar in a game where everything mattered.
Phillips ran into short center field to catch a fast-moving fly ball with Alta's Rodeo Carli on second base. She snagged it, and then threw Carli out at second for the innings final two outs. First baseman Bree Shober caught a critical line drive in the fourth with runners on third and second base that ended that inning.
"The kids played wonderful," said Warrior coach Rich Kaelin. "That's the most people we've had on base against us all year. It was a whole team effort. Everyone thinks because we have Leslie (Higley), we don't have much defense. That shows our defense."
The pitching for both teams was tough and most batters were lucky to just get a piece of the ball. A few sent it soaring, but only three players, including Alta's Carli, who hit the game's only double that went over the fielders' heads, were able to get on base by hitting in the air.
Moulds said the team is more focused this year, but being able to travel through the winner's bracket is a relief.
"We're just pretty much on a team high right now," she said afterward. "We've just got to keep ourselves focused."
That's because while the road to the final game just got shorter, it didn't get easier. The team will face Jordan, who also has one of the league's best pitchers in Leslie Nielsen, on Tuesday.
As for the Hawks, well, coach Vaughn Alvey knows the team will have a tough time, but he has three pitchers at his disposal and they have a combined ERA of .66 on the season.
"I think you've got to be really lucky (to get through the loser's bracket to the final game)," Alvey said. "But I like our chances . . . Don't count the Hawks out yet. We're still defending state champions until we lose another game."
In other 5A Tournament games Thursday:
JORDAN 4, FREMONT 0: Lindsie Nielsen recorded seven strikeouts, and also added an RBI single as the Beetdigger used a balanced attack to beat the Silverwolves.
HILLCREST 3, BINGHAM 1: Tifanie Dykman recorded two hits, one an RBI single in the first, as the Huskies avenged an April 30 loss to Bingham and advanced in the winners bracket of the state tournament.
VIEWMONT 10, LAYTON 2:Britney Thompson went the distance and only allowed four hits as the Vikings advanced past the Lancers in the winners bracket.
COPPER HILLS 9, DAVIS 4:Joelle Williams homered, tripled and drove in an impressive six runs as the visiting Grizzlies hammered the Darts.
WEBER 6, GRANGER 0: The Wildcats scored six runs in the final three innings to advance in the losers bracket.
HUNTER 4, NORTHRIDGE 3: The Wolverines scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past the Knights in a consolation bracket game.
SKYLINE 4, WEST JORDAN 0:Kathryn Tingey pitched a complete game shutout as the Eagles eliminated the Jaguars from the state tournament.
JORDAN 4, FREMONT 0: Lindsie Nielsen recorded seven strikeouts, and also added an RBI single as the Beetdigger used a blanced attack to beat the Silverwolves.
E-MAIL: adonaldson@desnews.com