TAYLORSVILLE — Roy coach Mandy Koford knows the road to a state championship isn't always smooth, and so, in her pregame speeches, she tried to prepare her young team for the possibility of adversity.
"When I would talk about the fact that we'd be down at some point, or we might have to come from behind, 'Cauley would just stand there shaking her head," said Koford, who is sophomore pitcher MaCauley Flint's aunt, after the Royals earned the 4A title with a 5-0 win over Tooele on Thursday evening. "I am so proud of how she rose to the occasion; she just came out fighting. She never once thought that anything but this would happen. She is so determined not to let anyone have a chance against us."
So determined that the sophomore and her nearly perfect defense earned a 4A state title with five straight shutouts. The only other time Roy High won a state softball title, in 1998, Koford was the stellar pitcher in the circle, but this was her first state title as a coach.
"It's just as emotional, that's for sure," said Koford, wiping away tears. "Now that I'm older, I understand how special, how rare it is. It's almost more exciting for me to know how hard they worked and they reached their goal. It's the best feeling in the world to watch how happy they are."
Flint got the Royals off to a flying start with a triple to right-center field. She scored when senior Krystin Jachim smacked a double down the left-field line. Then senior Sam Edstrom smashed a home run over the fence to cap a three-run first inning.
Meanwhile, Flint and the Royals' defense didn't allow the defending state champions a hit until the fourth inning. Marissa Mendenhall, who got that single, was one who consistently came through when her team needed a hit. The Buffalo became the "comeback kids" of the tournament after they lost in the second round and made their way to the title game by navigating the one-loss bracket.
"I told the kids we're not going to refer to it as the loser's bracket," said Tooele coach Steve Snow. "It's the scenic route."
His daughter, senior Mattie Snow, pitched all seven of those games and, in the end, fatigue became a factor the Buffalo couldn't overcome.
"We just ran out of gas," said Snow. "They battled. Take nothing away from Roy. They deserve (the title). We just ran into them at the wrong time."
A state championship is something Jachim wasn't sure she'd earn in high school.
"I've been thinking about it since I was a freshman," she said, choking back tears. "I didn't think it would happen, to be honest. I'm very glad it did."
Jachim, who is one of the most ferocious hitters in the state, said being overlooked made Thursday's victory a little sweeter.
"It's just because we're from Roy and no one expected much from us," she said, pausing to wipe away tears. "It feels so good to actually do something that no one thought you could do."
MaCauley Flint said the feeling of holding that trophy was everything she expected — and maybe a bit more.
"Ever since the beginning of tryouts, we've been talking about how this would feel," she said. Her determination to win regardless of the opponent, she said, came from her affection for her teammates.
"I knew we wouldn't let it happen," she said of any let-downs. "I knew how bad we all wanted this. They deserve every second. I'm so glad we played our game."
Flint, who earned All-Tournament MVP honors, has had plenty of coaching from her aunt, father and grandfather, who assists Koford with coaching duties.
"I have been dreaming about this for a long time, to watch her play at this level," said Koford of Flint. "She has had it tough with all of us coaching her. I know I couldn't have done it."
Koford called her team "special" and said they had talent, but it was the fact that they developed mental toughness that helped them earn the state's top honor.
"We've had talent, no doubt about that," she said. "But this team has worked very, very hard."
Flint said a police escort would meet them in Syracuse and lead the way back to town to meet for one last team dinner.
4A All-Tournament Team
MVP: MaCauley Flint, Roy, P
Krystin Jachim, Roy, SS
Sam Edstrom, Roy, 2B
Shaylee Barfuss, Roy, 1B
Whitnnie Griffith, Tooele, CF
Mattie Snow, Tooele, P
Aly Jensen, Tooele, C
Marissa Mendenhall, Tooele, 3B
Amber Hancock, Bonneville, P
Bailee Freeland, Bonneville, C
Steph Mark, Bonneville, 1B
Skylee Bowden, Bonneville, LF
Lyndi Miller, Murray, C
Sara Park, Murray, SS
Erin Thompson, Murray, 3B
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com