ST. GEORGE — Snow Canyon’s softball team is putting together the pieces of a potentially potent puzzle.

The Warriors plated the winning run in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off 2-1 home victory over Crimson Cliffs Thursday night, remaining unbeaten in Region 10 play (6-0) and improving to 11-6 overall.

“Yeah, just the top of our lineup, the girls were ready to go,” head coach Markay Thorkelson told St. George News after Meah Stafford drove in Kylie Hardy for Snow Canyon’s winning run.

“That’s a great Crimson Cliffs team, great pitcher, great team,” she added. “They played great defense and it’s nice to come up right there at the end.”

Snow Canyon worked its usual rotation on the rubber: Emma Daniel started and pitched the first four innings and Avery Thorkelson worked the final three, throwing absolute gas and striking out all nine batters she faced.

The combination of right-handers is lethal and is one of the reasons Snow Canyon hasn’t lost yet in region play.

“They’re just a good one-two punch. We’re excited to have them this year,” coach Thorkelson said. “They complement each other very, very well. Emma did a great job there in the beginning of the game, she did excellent.” 

It was the second hard-luck loss in a row for Crimson Cliffs pitcher McKenna Cahoon, a flame throwing right-hander who on some pitches can equal the velocity of the Warriors’ hurlers.

Cahoon piled up six strikeouts, walked one batter and yielded the two runs off just three hits in going the distance for Crimson Cliffs. The teams traded runs in the first frame with Daniel getting an RBI for Snow Canyon. After that it was a textbook pitcher’s duel until Stafford’s heroics in the bottom of the seventh. 

Coach Thorkelson was pleased with where the Warriors are at after two close 2-1 wins over Crimson in one week.

“We’re there, it’s just getting ready to turn the corner and really go,” she said. “They’re doing a great job on a lot of the things we’re working on. This region is tough, really. Any win you get in this region is great.”

Following are recaps of Region 10 games from the week, starting with Thursday night’s other two contests.

Desert Hills 19, Cedar 3

The Reds played as the home team in a game that saw Desert Hills score in every inning, including an 8-spot in the sixth to end the game.

Lulu West pitched the win for Desert Hills, striking out five. Sadie Parsons was saddled with the defeat for Cedar after throwing four strikeouts.

Four different Thunder batters recorded two RBI in the win: Jayla Ybright, Jenelle Jones, Riley Green, Aisey Gargano. Peyten Benson drove in three while West helped out with one RBI.

Cedar got a home run and an RBI from Marley Geddes to go along with a triple and two RBI off the bat of Lexus Ludlow in the loss.

Pine View 19, Dixie 12

The Panthers put up seven runs in the third and fifth innings and five in the fourth in the high scoring contest.

Pitcher Avery Gustin threw a strikeout and got the win for Pine View while Morgan Staheli struck out four and suffered the defeat for Dixie.

Gustin led the way at the plate for Pine View as well, driving in four runs. Kylie Carpenter also collected four RBI for the Panthers. Ragan Johnson and McKelle Jeppson had two RBI apiece in the win.

Jamelle Mullins (four RBI) and Lila Fitzgerald (two RBI) each hit a homerun to Dixie’s attack.

Games Tuesday April 4

Desert Hills 12, Cedar 1

The Thunder scored at least once in all five innings, including six tallies in the fifth frame to end the contest early.

Lulu West hit a homerun and drove in three to pace the Desert Hills offense. Saidey Spencer and Payten Benson also each homered and drove in three for the winners.

Desert Hills cranked out 12 hits in the victory.

West led the way on the hill as well, striking out four Reds batters to get the pitching victory.

Sadie Parson took the loss for Cedar while Shaylee Johnson recorded an RBI in the setback.

Dixie 16, Pine View 6

The Flyers scored at least once in all five innings, including three runs in the bottom of the fifth to engage the 10-run rule.

Morgan Staheli picked up the pitching win for Dixie, throwing four strikeouts. Avery Gustin took the loss for Pine View.

Staheli helped her own cause at the plate, driving three hits and scoring four times in the win. Three other Flyers batters (Alivia Arp, Stella Adams, Mayci Bradshaw) each had two hits in the victory.

Jamelle Mullins smashed a homer and collected three RBI for the Flyers.

Pine View got two hits apiece from three different players (Cambria Gibson, Kaytlyne Hunt, Abby Rosenberg). Six different Panthers each got one hit in the setback. Rosenberg led the team with three RBI.

Snow Canyon 2, Crimson Cliffs 1

The Warriors plated the only two runs they needed in the third inning while Crimson answered with its single tally in the sixth.

The rare Region 10 pitcher’s duel saw Avery Thorkelson toss 16 strikeouts in the win for Snow Canyon. McKenna Cahoon took the loss for Crimson after tossing 11 strikeouts.

Addilyn Brinkerhoff collected Crimson’s lone RBI while Emma Daniel homered and drove in both Snow Canyon runs in the victory.

Games Friday March 31

Snow Canyon 15, Pine View 0; Crimson Cliffs 9, Cedar 0

Games Tuesday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Snow Canyon at Cedar; Crimson Cliffs at Pine View; Hurricane at Dixie

Region 10 softball standings (region, overall) as of April 7:

1. Desert Hills 6-0, 13-4
2. Snow Canyon 6-0, 11-6
3. Crimson Cliffs 2-4, 6-7
4. Cedar 2-4, 3-7
5. Pine View 1-3, 5-7
6. Dixie 1-3, 5-9
7. Hurricane 0-5, 4-6

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