It didn't matter the game or the situation, this season the top-ranked Taylorsville softball team has had a different hero every game.
"Tonight it was the number five and six batters," said Warriors coach Rich Kaelin after the team defeated Bingham 2-1 in the 5A state tournament at the Cottonwood Complex. "It doesn't matter who is up, anyone could be the person to get the hit. You can't pitch around anyone because every one of our batters has hit a home run."
Tori Medina smacked an in-the-park home run in the second inning, which evened the score at one run each. Then Melissa Vigil hit an in-the-park home run in the fourth inning to give Taylorsville the edge. It was something that angered Bingham coach Bob Lewis.
"We give up two in-the-park home runs, and you can't do that and beat a good team," Lewis said. "You can't win a fricking' game on one hit."
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Taylorsville pitcher Diana Phillips threw a great game that included nine strikeouts. Kaelin said she was a bit nervous before the game, and that led to a walk for Miner shortstop Shandy Van Orden. She scored the Miners' only run.
"It was a long wait while the Jordan/Alta game was finishing, and she didn't get to do her usual warmup," Kaelin said. "But she settled in after that walk and threw a great game. I was very, very pleased with the job the whole team did."
Phillips said her nerves were OK, but she was a bit tense as the game began.
"I really, really wanted to win," she said. The senior struck out the game's final batter after a full count and she said waiting for that last call seemed like an eternity.
"It drove me crazy," she said. "It took forever to call that last strike."
Kaelin said the team struggled with Bingham's Somer Flores, who also threw a solid game.
"She did a good job of keeping us off balance," he said. "She threw a lot of changeups and made us hit to third base . . . But the kids stayed with it and hit the ball hard."
Both coaches know that any of the six remaining teams could win the title, and no one is counting anyone out quite yet.
Kearns will face Jordan and Fremont will take on Bingham as Taylorsville prepares to play Alta. None of the teams are very familiar with each other, and any one of them could emerge with the championship.
But Kaelin and his team are enjoying being in a position they haven't been in for several years. The last few years the Warriors have lost before the semi-final round and made it necessary to play quite a few more games.
"It definitely feels better (to be in the winner's bracket)," she said amid congratulations. "It takes a lot of pressure off because you know if you lose you still have another chance."
In other 5A softball playoff games Tuesday:
ALTA 6, JORDAN 4: Hawks pitcher Corie Jensen struck out Brianne Fabrizio with two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh inning to send Alta to the semifinal game on Wednesday. Jensen earned eight strikeouts in the victory. Jordan will play Wednesday in a loser-out game.
KEARNS 14, SKYLINE 1: The Cougars had a huge offensive outing, led by Lindsay Isakson's and Rachelle Tialavea's home runs. Tara Bendt had a triple in the win. Kearns moved on to play Copper Hills; Skyline ended the season with nine wins and 16 loses.
COPPER HILLS 8, DAVIS 0:Dez Thompson recorded nine strikeouts for the Grizzlies as they stayed alive in the one-loss bracket.
LAYTON 1, HUNTER 0: Lancer pitcher Haili Squire and a solid defensive effort held the Wolverines to two hits. Layton's Ashley McFarland scored the game's only run, in the top of the seventh. She got on base with a double and scored when her teammate Molli Neilson hit a sacrifice. Layton continued in the one-loss bracket to play Fremont. Hunter ended its season with the loss.
FREMONT 16, VIEWMONT 1: Silver Wolves pitcher Haley Schumers held the Vikings to a single hit and then smacked a triple and a home run in the win that kept Fremont alive in the 5A tournament to play Layton later Tuesday. The loss eliminated the defending 5A champion Vikings.
KEARNS 6, COPPER HILLS 2: Cougar pitcher Kara Bendt threw a one-hitter and then smacked a double to lead the Kearns offense. The Cougars continue in the one-loss bracket, playing Jordan on Wednesday. Copper Hills ends the season with a record of 15-11.
FREMONT 9, LAYTON 2:Haley Schumers threw a three-hitter as the Silver Wolves move on in the one-loss bracket. Layton ends its season with 15 wins and eight loses.
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com