Alta pitchers Kim Todd and Corie Jensen share time on the mound, but instead of feeling competitive with each other or jealous of the other girl's game time, they say they're grateful for the help.
"We knew it would take both of us to take state," said starting pitcher Todd, who moved to second base after four-plus innings on the mound in the Hawks' 3-2 win over Taylorsville at Cottonwood Complex on Wednesday.
In the fourth inning, the top-ranked Warriors tagged Todd for three hits and two runs. The senior said she knew the switch was coming after two batters in the fifth inning.
"I thought, 'It's all right if I do (switch),' " Todd said.
Jensen added: "It's always tough to be taken out, but you know it's your pal coming to help you out."
Taylorsville coach Rich Kaelin said the switch was critical in a "game of inches."
"That was a very good (move)," he said. "They're a good team, and their pitchers threw well."
Jensen came into the game and struck out the first four batters. She finished with six strikeouts, including the last batter of the game, Staci Hemingway, who smacked a double in the fourth and knocked in one of the two fourth-inning runs.
After the come-from-behind win for Alta, the team was in tears.
"Yes, I'm crying already," said Hawks coach Tiffani Airmet. "Too much emotion. We're right where we want to be."
The game was a nail-biter with both teams missing opportunities to score while playing very solid defense. The second-year head coach said once Taylorsville started hitting Todd's pitches, she knew she had to put Jensen on the mound.
"Once they started tagging Kim, I had to change," she said. "I didn't want to face those big hitters again . . . Taylorsville is so tough; every girl can hit."
The big offensive hero for the Hawks was the same girl who's been winning tight games for the team all season with her reliable bat — Rodeo Carli.
"When she came to bat she just smiled at me because it was the first time I'd given her the hit-away sign," Airmet said. "This game was nothing extraordinary, and that's what we talked about, nothing extraordinary, just play a solid game. And that's what we did."
Carli's hit that scored two runs and gave Alta the lead came in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. Two of her teammates got on base with bunts, and that's something Airmet said they've been working very hard on doing well.
"I thought that paid off," she said.
Taylorsville's Tahnie Young threw a good game for the Warriors, with five strikeouts, and Brittney McReynolds made some great plays at third base.
In other 5A playoff games Wednesday:
JORDAN 3, KEARNS 1:Stephanie Calaway hit a triple that scored Brianne Fabrizio in the sixth inning to give the Beetdiggers the go-ahead run. The win means the Beetdiggers will take on region-rival Bingham in the one-loss bracket, while Kearns was eliminated.
BINGHAM 5, FREMONT 4: Shandy Van Orden scored the winning run in the ninth inning when Katie McBride smacked a single over third base with one out.
The Miners waited until the last inning to score any runs. They scored their first when pitcher Amber Sackett smacked a single that drove in Haley Davenport and McBride.
BINGHAM 3, JORDAN 2: The Miners earned all three of the runs they'd need in the second inning. Haley Davenport hit a single with two outs and two strikes to knock in two runners. Then Katie McBride allowed the third run to score with a single to left field.
The win means the second-ranked Miners will face top-ranked Taylorsville at 10 a.m. today for the chance to play in the title game.
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com