WASHINGTON CITY — Lulu West was spotted three runs before she even toed the rubber Tuesday night and that was all she needed.
West and the Desert Hills Thunder won big again on the Region 9 softball diamond, beating Crimson Cliffs 9-1 in Washington Fields.
The Thunder boomed early and plated three runs in the top of the first inning. West picked up the win after hurling a complete seven innings.
“Yeah it’s super helpful to come out and get a nice lead, and then my defense backed me up really well in that first inning,” West told St. George News after the Thunder improved to 2-0 in Region 9 and 10-2 overall.
West gave up four hits, surrendered one run, walked seven batters and struck out five Mustangs in the victory.
The Thunder scored again in the top of the second and led 4-1 going into the fifth frame, when they broke it open with a four-spot and took an insurmountable lead against the home team Mustangs.
Campbell Tate (one RBI) and Bailey Lee (two RBI) each hit two singles for Desert Hills. Six other Thunder batters accounted for one base hit apiece, highlighted by junior Payten Benson’s two-run homerun.
West helped her own cause with a double and a run scored. She said the Thunder all took a basic approach at the plate against Crimson’s hard-throwing right-hander Gracee Stucki.
“Just see it and hit it, pretty much,” West said. “Hit line drives.”
Crimson’s Paisley Lantz drove in the one tally for the Mustangs, who plated that run in the bottom of the third inning.
The Mustangs fell to 1-2 in region play and are 7-5 overall.
With only one senior in the Thunder’s lineup, West has assumed a leadership role as a sophomore.
“We have a lot of fun. We like playing together,” West said. “We’re young, but we’re really strong together.”
She added that chemistry will go a long way in the Thunder’s dugout this year.
“I think we just have to continue to work together and try to be at our best every game and stay focused,” West said.
The same two teams rematch Thursday at Desert Hills at 7 p.m.
Cedar 6, Dixie 1
The Cedar Reds remained unbeaten in region play at 3-0 and are 5-4 overall after beating Dixie on the road Tuesday night.
Sadie Parson struck out 12 Flyers en route to the pitching win for Cedar. She yielded one run off three hits.
Morgan Staheli started for Dixie and also struck out 12 batters in the loss.
Shaylee Johnson and Kenzie Hawkins each doubled and drove in a run for Cedar in the win. Marley Geddes finished with two doubles and an RBI for the winners.
Kaitlin Bulloch hit a two-bagger and Maya Bishoff contributed an RBI for Cedar’s cause.
Dixie (5-8 overall, 0-2 region) got its run in the bottom of the fifth when Bailee Rogers doubled and Macey Bradshaw followed with an RBI double for the Flyers.
The same two teams rematch in Cedar City Thursday at 3 p.m.
Snow Canyon 7, Hurricane 6
The Warriors won in walk-off fashion at home after scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the Tigers.
Hurricane (10-4, 1-2) started with a bang, plating three runs in the first and leading 4-1 after three innings. The Tigers upped their advantage to 6-2 going into the seventh.
Snow Canyon (8-2, 1-0) got one back in the second and sixth frames and then rallied for five in the bottom of the seventh.
Avery Thorkelson picked up the pitching win for the Warriors, striking out nine batters in the process. She walked three, allowed five hits and surrendered six runs (three unearned).
Chandler Beck hit a double and a home run to pace the Snow Canyon attack with two RBI. Alyssa Staheli, Maycee Smith and Allie Landis each contributed an RBI for the winners.
Meanwhile, McKinlee Wright and Austin Terry both hit a solo homer for the Tigers, and Ani Hutchings had two hits and two RBI for Hurricane in the setback.
The same two teams rematch in Hurricane Thursday at 7 p.m.
Note: this report was edited March 21 to provide the correct locations of the games between Snow Canyon and Hurricane.
Photo Gallery
Crimson Cliffs' Paisley Lantz bats against Desert Hills in a Region 9 softball game, Washington, Utah, March 19, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Desert Hills catcher Payten Benson tags out a Crimson Cliffs runner in a Region 9 softball game, Washington, Utah, March 19, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Desert Hills' Lulu West bats against Crimson Cliffs in a Region 9 softball game, Washington, Utah, March 19, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Desert Hills' Lulu West pitches against Crimson Cliffs in a Region 9 softball game, Washington, Utah, March 19, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Desert Hills catcher Payten Benson catches a pop up against Crimson Cliffs in a Region 9 softball game, Washington, Utah, March 19, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Crimson Cliffs' Isabelle Baird bats against Desert Hills in a Region 9 softball game, Washington, Utah, March 19, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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