DRAPER — Juan Diego's Taylor Anderson wasn't worried at all when she took over pitching duties in the second game of a double header against the region-rival North Sanpete.
"I wasn't nervous at all," said the senior after leading Juan Diego to back-to-back wins against the region's only other unbeaten team. "We had a lot of great backup defensively. Brie (Dimond, the other pitcher) was actually pitching really well. She was hitting her spots, but they were just hitting the ball well."
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Anderson threw a complete game in the Soaring Eagle's 1-0 win over North Sanpete in the first game of the double-header. She struck out 14 batters in that game, which was more of a pitching duel between Anderson and the Hawks No. 1 hurler, Laney Jacobsen.
"That's the best I've ever seen Taylor pitch," said coach Tom Rodgers. "They were definitely focused in that first game, and Taylor responded."
Jacobsen only allowed four hits while Anderson allowed just two hits. Anderson said she had no idea she's struck out so many batters in the first game.
"It's not something that's on my mind," she said. But with each strike out, her confidence increased, as did that of her teammates.
"I think having a confident pitcher pumps a team up," she said.
While Dimond threw the first four innings of the second game, the Hawks offense came alive and forced Rodgers to put Anderson back into the game midway through the fourth inning. She took over and struck out two batters with two runners in scoring position and Juan Diego up 6-4.
She earned six strike-outs in three and a half innings of work as Juan Diego won the second game 8-4. And what she couldn't accomplish from the circle, her teammates led by seniors Stephanie Barman, Sierra Mullins, and Jessie Connelly took care of.
"She did a great job for us today," said Rodgers. "All of the girls played well."
The Hawks used three pitchers in the second game and eventually wound up putting Jacobsen back into the circle for the final two and a half innings. The Soaring Eagle didn't score another run after she took over.
While Rodgers and Anderson said they love playing double-headers, something new in region 8 this season as they only have five schools, North Sanpete coach Chad Larsen doesn't like it.
"We haven't ever played well in a double-header," he said. "Both teams are great teams, but we made a few errors when we shouldn't."
In addition to Jacobsen's solid pitching, catcher Skyler Dunn, first baseman Chelsea Bird and centerfielder Chelsea Maley all played well for the Hawks.
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