BOUNTIFUL — Roy pitcher McCauley Flint hadn't given up a run since the playoffs started last season.
It would have been understandable, then, if the home run in the second inning by Viewmont sophomore Hannah Randall would have unnerved or frustrated her.
"I think I lost a little bit of focus there," said Flint with a grin after top-ranked Roy defeated Viewmont 5-1 Thursday. "But my team picked me up, and I thought, 'OK, now it's time to go. You've got to get more focused.'"
Roy head coach Amanda Koford, who is Flint's aunt, said she felt a twinge of sadness the streak ended with a home run, but it also relieves a little pressure on the junior.
"No one is expecting perfection," said Koford. "It was extremely fulfilling to see my team play so hard. (Viewmont) had bases loaded in that first inning, and we got out of it without a run scored. It's a big deal to fight so hard. I couldn't be more pleased with beating such a great team."
The game was exciting with two of the state's best pitchers, Flint and Megan Peay, who play summer softball together for the Sting, squaring off in Region 1 play. Both teams have been looking forward to the meeting, which Koford believes is the first between the schools in more than a decade as Roy moved from 4A to 5A this year.
"It was scary, honestly," said Flint of the matchup. "I knew Megan (Peay) would throw a great game; she is so good. But we had a few clutch hits that kept us in the game. I couldn't be more happy."
First baseman Bryce Mitchell came up with one of those huge hits. In the second inning, she smashed a triple to right center (with a full count) that drove in two runs.
Randall answered with a home run as the lead-off batter in the bottom of the second inning, but Flint and company retired the next three batters. Flint finished with six strike-outs, while Peay earned seven.
"I didn't think I was throwing the ball with my A game," said Flint. "But it doesn't matter. We won. It was a very fun game."
First-year head coach Brad Jones was pleased with his team's effort against the undefeated Royals.
"We left like eight runners on base," he said grimacing. "We've been waiting all season for that game. We did really well. We're young. Megan did a really good job."
Jones said the players have been looking forward to the challenge of playing Roy.
"They are the ones we've been planning on," he said. "We've been hitting the ball really well. Last game we had five home runs. I'm really proud of them."
Both teams had six hits, while Viewmont had four errors and Roy only had one.
The fact that every team hopes to take down the top-ranked Royals is something that doesn't bother Flint at all.
"I like it. It gets me excited," Flint said. "The rankings don't matter. Like my dad always says, 'It's not always the best team that wins; it's the team that plays the best that wins."
e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com