OREM — In a battle between two of the top Utah County softball teams, Spanish Fork came out on top 1-0 over the No. 1 Mountain View Bruins.
It was a pitcher's duel from the start as Spanish Fork lefty Bridgett Miller tossed a no-hitter and Mountain View's Chelsey Mikalauski threw her own two-hitter. It was two hits too many as one run was all it took for the Dons to establish bragging rights in the preseason contest.
Spanish Fork moved to 5-0 in the preseason and Mountain View dropped to 5-2 as both teams struggled a bit in the field with three errors apiece. "We made mistakes that were unbelievable," lamented Spanish Fork coach Don Andrews. "We've been doing really well staying in games when we make our mistakes, but sooner or later it's going to bite us."
He was pleased, however, with the pitching performance he got from his senior starter. "She started working ahead instead of getting behind. That makes a big difference. She moved it around today."
In addition to giving up no hits to the tough Mountain View lineup, Miller struck out five and only walked two. "I was actually kind of struggling today. So I was excited but surprised (with the no-hitter)."
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Neither team could figure out the other team's pitcher, but Spanish Fork catcher Amy Morris dumped a double to right center in the second inning to score sophomore Jessica Anderson, who'd reached base on an error. Miller had the only other hit in the contest with a single in the second, but the Dons couldn't bring another run across the plate and settled for the single score.
"I'm proud of Amy's hit," said Andrews. "That was the whole game right there."
Mikalauski threw six strikeouts in her two-hit effort and didn't give up a single walk, but it wasn't enough as Spanish Fork held tight to its one-run lead and didn't let a Bruin reach base in five of the seven innings.
Only one Mountain View runner reached third base and that was as Katie Welling avoided the Spanish Fork rundown and managed to slip past the defender into third on a fielder's choice slip up that allowed the batter, Mallary Gillespie, to land at second, but neither runner was able to score in the bottom of the first.
The game was not without excitement in the field as there was a runner interference call and a hit batter in addition to the failed rundown.
In other games Tuesday:
REGION 12
SOUTH SEVIER 16, GUNNISON 0:Jessica Goddard held the Bulldogs to one hit over three innings and the Rams scored 13 times in the first to cruise in the first region contest for both teams. Nicole Dowell led South Sevier offensively, going 3-for-3 from the leadoff spot.
MANTI 11, NORTH SEVIER 1:Jennie Nielson went 3-for-3 to lead the Templars to the easy region-opening victory.
REGION 14
JUAB 19, DUCHESNE 1: Juab dominated Duchesne, allowing only one run on six hits.
JUAN DIEGO 19, ALTAMONT 0:Stacy Smith allowed no runs and no hits as Juan Diego shut out Altamont. Smith also had a double to help her own cause.
NONREGION
WASATCH 15, MORGAN 5:Jenny Parker led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run and Wasatch plated five in the opening frame en route to its win over Morgan. The Wasps pounded out 16 hits, led by Carlli Latimere, who went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Parker finished the game with three runs scored on two hits.
TOOELE 8, WOODS CROSS 2:Brandi Allen had two triples and a home run to lead the Buffaloes to a preseason win over the Wildcats.
RIVERTON 10, GRANGER 0:Brooke Sorenson gave up just one hit as she shut down Granger and earned the shutout.
JORDAN 5, MURRAY 1: The Beetdiggers scored three runs in the second inning and held off the Spartans the rest of the way.
PLEASANT GROVE 10, DELTA 9: The Vikings jumped out to the 7-1 lead after the third inning and then hung for the victory.
GRAND 10, SAN JUAN 0:Mindy McElhaney allowed only one hit in earning the shutout of Grand. McElhaney had six strikeouts for Grand.
FREMONT 5, ROY 1: Fremont's Hailey Schumers and Roy's Kayla George both took no-hitters into the sixth inning, but it was a bases-loaded triple by Fremont's Kaitlin Manning that proved to be the difference maker. Sasha Stone plated Roy's only run of the game on an RBI single in the sixth inning.
HILLCREST 12, COTTONWOOD 1:Kaitlyn Meek pitched a complete game for the Huskies allowing just one run on four hits. Meek also helped her own cause from the plate with a double.
PARK CITY 19, HIGHLAND 13: Park City capitalized on six Highland errors and a number of timely walks to defeat the Rams and negate Sophie Rivera's first-inning grand slam.
HUNTER 10, EAST 0:Nikki Smith led off the game with a solo home run for the Wolverines and the team never looked back.
TAYLORSVILLE 6, VIEWMONT 1:Diana Phillips allowed just one run on three hits for Taylorsville. Phillips had 10 strikeouts and also went 3-for-4 with the bat scoring two runs. Stacey Hemmingway went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for Taylorsville.
LONE PEAK 3, PROVO 2:Hilary Welch went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and one RBI to help lead Lone Peak over Provo in nonregion play.
DAVIS 5, SKYLINE 0: Kate Christensen and Jessica Foust each had two hits, while Angie Gines struck out seven to lead the Darts past the Eagles.
ALTA 5, OREM 4: In a pitching dual, Alta's Corie Jensen came out on top as she struck out 10 to earn the one-run win over Orem's Devrie Downey.
COPPER HILLS 5, NORTHRIDGE 2: The Grizzlies improved to 5-3 with a road victory over the Knights.
LAYTON 1, KEARNS 0: Jasey Jensen had an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 0-0 tie and help lead the Lancers over the Cougars. Haili Squire went the distance for Layton, striking out eight while allowing just two hits. Kearns' Kara Bendt also pitched a complete game, allowing just two hits while striking out nine.
GRANITE 10, BEN LOMOND 0: Amy Broadbent struck out eight, while also adding a double, to lead the Farmers past the Scots for their second win of the season.