Region 9 softball: Panthers squeeze past Cedar in extra-inning thriller

Cedar vs. Pine View, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 9, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A couple of weeks ago when Pine View beat then-undefeated Snow Canyon, many folks said it was a fluke. After Thursday’s Panther win over high-flying Cedar, it seems that there must be something to this Pine View team.

Pine-view-smcedar-smThe Lady Panthers rallied for six runs in the sixth inning, then manufactured the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Cedar, which came into the game having won eight of its last nine games and in first place.

“We had a tough go of it up in Cedar City,” said PV coach Randy Green, whose team was beaten 14-5 by Canyon View Tuesday afternoon. “This gets us back on track, to shake that off and come home and play well at home. We knew we could, but sometimes you have to convince yourself of that.”

Laikyn Paxman puts the ball in play for Pine View, Cedar vs. Pine View, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 9, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Laikyn Paxman puts the ball in play for Pine View, Cedar vs. Pine View, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 9, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

Laikyn Paxman hit a ground ball deep in the hole between second and third with two outs in the ninth. With Ashlyn Gubler on third and the score tied at 8-8, Paxman knew if she could beat out the throw, the game would belong to Pine View.

“I was pretty nervous, nervous and excited,” she said. “When I hit it, I thought ‘I can beat that out.’ I put my head down and tried to run my fastest. I didn’t know I was safe until I heard the cheers from the crowd.”

Cedar shortstop Dream Weaver made it a pretty close play as the throw was just a half-step late. Paxman’s infield single gave PV the 9-8 win in a game that had more twists than a pack of Red Vines.

Four Pine View errors in the first inning opened the door to four Cedar runs before the Panthers had even picked up a bat. Hannah Williams had a double and Weaver had a single amid the PV miscues. The Panthers did get a run back to make it 4-1 and the score stayed that way until a Sadie Leavitt home run in the fourth pushed it to 5-1.

“That was important for us,” Green said. “Even though we probably should have scored more in that inning, just getting a run back gave us some confidence that we could get the bats going.”

PV did get them going in the sixth. With two outs, Jordan Gosik and Paxman walked. Aubrey Nielson singled to right, scoring Gosik and Paxman came home on an overthrow to make it 5-3. Madi Green then walked to put two on.

Sadie Leavitt launches a home run over the left field wall for Cedar, Cedar vs. Pine View, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 9, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Sadie Leavitt launches a home run over the left field wall for Cedar, Cedar vs. Pine View, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 9, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

McKayla Leavitt then lined a double to the gap in right-center, scoring both runners and tying the game at 5-5. But the Panthers weren’t done as Britain Nielson and Addi Horspool followed with hits to put Pine View ahead 7-5 heading into the seventh.

Cedar saved the game with two runs in the seventh. After a one-out Pine View error, Javlyn Weaver doubled and Dream Weaver followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6. Reagan Urquidez stepped to the plate and calmly laced a hit to left field to tie the game.

Using the international tie-breaker rule (a runner is placed on second base to start each half-inning after the seventh if the game is tied), both teams were able to push a run across in the eighth inning. But Cedar had its runner thrown out trying to steal in the ninth and came up empty-handed. That set up Gubler and Paxman to end the game.

“This win will help keep us going,” Paxman said. “It will really help our confidence the rest of the season.”

Britain Nielson had four hits for PV, while Green had three as the Panthers improve to 4-3 in region and 6-7 overall.

“This is just one step,” Green said. “It’s a big one. But we also have to take care of business with some of the other teams so we can get into the (state) tournament.”

ASP_8192
McKayla Leavitt, Cedar vs. Pine View, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 9, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

Cedar falls to 9-7 and 5-2 in region despite three hits each from the Weaver sisters.

The game last two-and-a-half hours. “I’m worn out,” said a smiling Addi Horspool afterward. She was the winning pitcher, throwing 147 pitches and striking out 13 batters. Only two of the runs she allowed were earned runs.

Pine View plays in the Payson Invitational this weekend before hosting Snow Canyon next Tuesday. Cedar will also compete in Payson and then host Dixie on Tuesday.

Stats: cedpvsb4915

Snow Canyon 10, Desert Hills 0

The Lady Warriors find themselves alone in first place after drubbing the Lady Thunder in a mercy-rule shortened game that lasted six innings.

snow-canyon-smDesert-Hills-smHeather Prestwich was aces on the mound for Snow Canyon, which improved to 6-1 in region (11-1 overall).

SC has won five straight since its lone loss on Mar. 20 against Pine View. The Warriors have scored at least 10 runs in every one of those games and all but one of the wins was shortened by the mercy rule. The total score in the five consecutive wins: Snow Canyon 69, Region 9 opponents 5.

The Warriors next play at home against Pine View and will try to avenge their only loss of the season.

D-Hills, 5-12 and 2-5 in region, is at Hurricane Tuesday night.

Canyon View 9, Hurricane 6

The teams combined for nine errors in the game, but the Falcons played enough defense to come away with the win.

canyon-view-smhurricane-smIt was 5-3 heading into the sixth when Canyon View put together a four-run rally to seize control of the game. The Lady Tigers struck for three in the seventh, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

The Falcons are tied for second place with Cedar and a game behind Snow Canyon in the region standings. Jessica Jarvis and Kaitlyn DeLange each had double for Canyon View, which is 6-8 overall and 5-2 in region games.

Hurricane fell to 7-11 overall and 0-7 in region.

CV is at a tournament in Las Vegas this weekend and then at Dixie next Friday. Hurricane hosts Desert Hills Tuesday afternoon.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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1 Comment

  • mesaman April 10, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    Great article with fantastic pictures. A story well done. This puts the Spectrum right on the floor of the parrot’s cage, or maybe the outhouse.

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