High school softball: Herriman continues region dominance with win over Mountain Ridge

Through the first three innings of Tuesday’s Region 2 matchup between Herriman and Mountain Ridge, it looked like the Mustangs were about to run away with it. However, Mountain Ridge gave them significant resistance.

In the end, Herriman weathered a Sentinel comeback to earn its fifth consecutive win, 9-3.

The Mustangs earned the early lead through quick outs defensively, while having long stands at bat to earn the 4-0 lead. They took advantage of a handful of Mountain Ridge errors, and Aspyn Hawes had a double and a single, which brought home two runs.

Everything was going Herriman’s way until the top of the fourth inning.

The Mustangs had strong pitching all day, but a few untimely walks and base hits gave Mountain Ridge loaded bases with only one out. A walk then gave Mountain Ridge its first run of the game, and all of a sudden, the lead looked much less significant.

The Herriman coaching staff decided to make a pitching change and put Sierra Prescott on the mound.

“Honestly, in those types of situations, I really had to trust my team and my defense behind me,” Prescott said. “I know they have my back, so I feel like I’m able to get my job done.”

Mountain Ridge managed to score two more runs, both of which came from a base hit from Hannah Dansie, but after the Herriman defense got the third out, it dominated from there.

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The Mustangs followed with a run in the fourth, a run in the fifth and three runs in the sixth.

Meanwhile, the Herriman defense locked in its focus. Prescott kept hitting the strike zone, and her teammates made plays behind her. The Mustangs held Mountain Ridge scoreless while Prescott threw three strikeouts.

“She’s been one of our rock-solid horses as a pitcher,” said Herriman head coach Heidi McKissick. “She’s always ready and it’s been fun to watch her take on that role as being the closer of the game.”

Hawes was the star offensively for Herriman. She hit 3 of 4, including a double and a triple, and recorded four RBIs in the win. She also stole home for the ninth and final run for the Mustangs.

“I feel like this team is just amazing,” Hawes said. “I feel like we pick each other up, and when one of us is struggling, we know that our teammates have our back. I feel like that’s what makes us such a great team.”

Herriman has been one of the top teams in the state this season, and is currently sitting at the top of Region 2 with a 6-0 record. The Mustangs are now 16-1 overall.

“I think we’re just really playing as a team,” McKissick said. “We’re meshing well. We don’t depend on just one player; we’re depending on the whole team to put in effort, whether defense or offense. It’s been a really great ride of just being able to watch everyone participate and be included.”