OREM — The Orem Tigers took advantage of an uncharacteristic subpar outing by No. 2 Spanish Fork to wrap up an easy 8-0 victory in the preseason contest between two of the toughest teams in Utah County.
The Dons committed eight errors, leading to all eight Orem runs, and Tiger ace Devrie Downey pitched a five-hit shutout against the normally tough-hitting Spanish Fork team.
"Devrie just keeps getting better and better, and it helps that she has an experienced catcher behind her," said Orem coach Paul Clark. "I think every time Devrie takes the mound she has a chance (to shut teams out)."
The Dons, meanwhile, rested their own ace, left-hander Bridgett Miller, and starter Shaylyn Christensen gave up nine hits to the hard-hitting Tigers.
"Spanish Fork has played a lot of games in a row," said Clark,"and we didn't beat their best pitcher either. We were swinging at strikes, and we hit the ball hard most of the time."
The teams traded two scoreless innings before the Tigers got their game going and the Dons fell apart defensively. Christensen gave up a one-out walk to Downey before Marsha Heimuli recorded an RBI on a single to left center. A fielding error on the play sent Heimuli to second, and the dominoes started falling. Another error allowed Kristine McKonkie to reach base safely before Jamie Layton stepped to the plate for her second hit of the contest, this one a double.
Layton went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Tigers, who scored four runs in the third and decisive inning. A double by Karlee Wilder scored the final two in the third.
While the Dons were falling apart in the field, the Tigers stepped up strong, making great plays and decisions in their errorless game.
Freshman Delyse Downey replaced an injured Shannon Finch in center field and made two spectacular catches in the Spanish Fork half of the third to record the final two outs of that inning.
"Delyse is a very solid player for a freshman," said Clark. They scored one more in the fourth after Allie Hatch singled and Spanish Fork committed another error. Devrie Downey hit a long fly ball to left field, which was caught, but the runner tagged from third to score and give the senior her lone RBI of the contest.
Two more runs crossed the plate for the Tigers in the fifth inning and another in the sixth, and Devrie Downey struck out the side in the top of the seventh to finish off the victory.
In other prep action Tuesday:
SOCCER
NONREGION
PLEASANT GROVE 4, BOX ELDER 2: Box Elder could not match the goal output by Jay Helquist and Pleasant Grove. Helquist finished with two goals for Pleasant Grove.
SKY VIEW 3, TIMPVIEW 0:Brian Hebdon tallied twice for Sky View in its nonregion win over Timpview. Logan Hull and Kourtney Knowles split time in goal for the Bobcats.
LOGAN 3, AMERICAN FORK 0: Logan's first-half attack proved to be too much for American Fork as the Grizzlies blanked the Cavemen.
MOUNTAIN VIEW 4, SPRINGVILLE 0:Tyson Firmage notched two goals for Mountain View as it blanked Springville to remain undefeated. Nate Hall earned his fourth shutout on the season.
BASEBALL
REGION 7
PLEASANT GROVE 6, MOUNTAIN VIEW 4:Kyle Beecher earned the victory on the mound as he paced Pleasant Grove to the win over Mountain View.
REGION 8
EMERY 5, LEHI 3:Chandler Pearson went the distance against Lehi along and belted a home run in the fifth for Emery in the win.
REGION 14
JUAB 17, SOUTH SUMMIT 2:Colby Park and Chett Coombs had three base hits apiece to help lead Juab over South Summit. Park finished with two RBIs and a triple, while Coombs was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
WASATCH 11, GRANTSVILLE 10: Trailing 9-6 entering the seventh inning, the Wasps scored five runs on five hits to overcome the Cowboys and pick up the win. Derrick Black led Grantsville, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.
SPANISH FORK 8, COTTONWOOD 2:Dustin McBride pitched six solid innings for Spanish Fork in the Dons' nonregion win over 5A's Cottonwood.
SOFTBALL —
REGION 8
NORTH SANPETE 10, DELTA 1:Kayley Christiansen was perfect at the plate for North Sanpete in an easy win over Delta.
LEHI 13, EMERY 1: The Pioneers jumped in front 7-1 after two innings of play in the Region 8 opener, and padded their lead with the help of 10 walks by Emery pitching.
REGION 14
SOUTH SUMMIT 12, JUAB 11: In a see-saw battle, South Summit scored twice in the final frame to rally from a 10-6 deficit and defeat Juab. The Wasps' Sally Smalley was the offensive star of the game, going 4-for-5 with a triple, home run and six RBIs.
NONREGION
TIMPANOGOS 5, UINTAH 2:Ali Bramwell earned the complete game victory for Timpanogos as she struck out 14 Uintah batters in the effort.
JUDGE MEMORIAL 10, PLEASANT GROVE 6:Maggie Holden went 3-for-4 at the plate and pitched a complete game for Judge in its win over Pleasant Grove.
CARBON 9, PROVO 4: Carbon scored three runs in the final inning to keep Provo away in a close nonregion contest.
HUNTER 22, AMERICAN FORK 2: Hunter jumped out to the early lead and never looked back. The Wolverines pounded out 19 hits while holding American Fork to just two.
PAYSON 4, LONE PEAK 2: Payson's four-run scoring output in the second inning was all it took to down Lone Peak.
OREM 7, SPANISH FORK 0:Jamie Layton went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI in the Tigers' nonregion win over Spanish Fork. Orem capitalized on eight errors by the Dons.
MOUNTAIN VIEW 8, TIMPVIEW 2: Amy Welling's five strikeouts helped Mountain View drop Timpview in a easy win for the Bruins.