See more photos from this game.
TAYLORSVILLE — For most teams, an intrasquad contest is all about having a good time.
For the Snow Canyon Warriors, it was a turning point.
"Three days before the playoff game against Wasatch, we split our team into two and that was it," said pitcher Brytni Gurney, who threw a no-hitter in leading the fourth-seeded Snow Canyon to a 10-0 quarterfinal win over Grantsville Thursday at Valley Softball Complex. "We're a very competitive team and no one wanted to lose to each other."
Added Taylor Hintze, who smacked a three-run home run over the center-field fence in the third inning, "We were like, 'Oh, this is how it feels!'"
The players said it was like someone turned on a light switch and the team found a new level of intensity. It helped them travel to Heber City and upset top-seeded and fourth-ranked Wasatch, and it helped them defeat a tough Grantsville squad in the 3A tournament's second round.
"We were just playing for bragging rights," said Gurney, who also had two doubles, a walk and got on base when she was hit by a pitch.
And yeah, there might be some trash talking involved for the losing side.
"A little bit," admitted Hintze with a grin.
The players were most disappointed to lose to Cedar twice. The Redmen captured the top seed in a very competitive Region 9 race, and the Warriors felt they let the games against them slip away.
"We should have beaten them," Gurney said. "We had lots of errors. We feel like we should be No. 1. But it's driving us to prove that we're the best."
Hintze said the team's goal to make a playoff run intensified after that intrasquad game.
"We hope to surprise them," she said.
The Warriors started the year a preseason favorite and jumped out to an 8-1 record. But they stumbled in region play losing to Pine view and then Cedar. They lost to Canyon View and then Cedar again.
The team craves redemption, and after a few words of congratulations on the no hitter against Grantsville, first-year head coach Genny Poll pointed out that the Warriors now had their shot at revenge.
"We'd love a rematch with Cedar," she said. "We feel they got lucky against us twice. There are some great teams in our region; it's deep. Two teams from our region are in the final four. "
Both Poll and her players said adjusting to a new head coach made the year more challenging, but they feel they have the chemistry and camaraderie they need to play their best softball.
"The confidence in the girls' eyes in practice is different," said Poll. "Their confidence level is back."
Poll was pleased with how her defense backed up Gurney, and of how they performed at the plate, earning seven hits in the win.
"She pitched an amazing game," Poll said of the no-hitter. "She's been a great pitcher; she puts in the extra time, and we've really pushed her the last month."
Gurney's competitive nature has helped her lead her teammates in developing the kind of intensity needed to compete for a title.
Gurney said she knew she had a no-hitter going but didn't get nervous because she wasn't worried about her own stats.
"I just focus on one pitch at a time," said the junior. "A no-hitter is great, and I love it. But the most important thing is to get a win for my team."
Snow Canyon faces Cedar at noon on Friday, while Spanish Fork plays defending 3A champion Bear River in the other semifinal game at the same time. Only Bear River went all seven innings with its opponent Thursday. The other three games ended after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
In the winner's bracket:
BEAR RIVER 4, CANYON VIEW 0: Bears pitcher Jordan Theurer earned eight strike outs in the team's quarterfinal win Thursday. Erin Fox and Shaunie Owen each had doubles in the win for the second-ranked squad. Fox went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Aleisha Taylor went 3-for-3 in the win.
The victory means the defending champion Bears will face top-ranked Spanish Fork in Friday's semifinal at noon.
The loss forced Canyon View to play again at 4 p.m.
CEDAR 14, TOOELE 2: The Redmen earned a five-inning win over Tooele thanks to a potent offensive performance. Jessica Nakken went 3-for-4 with a grand slam home run.
Tooele's Hadli Sorenson hit a triple and a double in the loss that sends the Buffalo to the one-loss bracket.
The win means Cedar will face Region 9 foe, Snow Canyon, in the semifinal Friday. The Redmen beat the Warriors twice during region play.
SPANISH FORK 13, JUAN DIEGO 1: The Dons had a huge day at the plate with three home runs in the quarterfinals of the 3A state state tournament. Mckinley Brinkerhoff led the power hitting off with a home run over the center field fence in the first inning. Sydney Butler hit a two-run home run in the third inning and Kayla Larsen smacked a home run in the fifth inning. Brinkerhoff went 4-for-4 with a double and a home run.
Alissa Brussato went 2-for-2 in the loss for Juan Diego, including a home run in the second inning that scored the Soaring Eagle's only run.
The win means Spanish Fork advances to the semi-finals on Friday at noon against Bear River. The loss sends Juan Diego into the one loss bracket where they face Canyon View at noon Friday.