4A state softball: Region 10 has 4 teams in bracket play, Warriors and Mustangs up first

Written by E. George Goold
May 14, 2023

ST. GEORGE — Snow Canyon and Crimson Cliffs both rolled in super regional softball playoff action on Saturday, setting the Region 10 rivals on a collision course at state.

Desert Hills pitcher Lulu West, here in a file photo, leads the No. 3 Thunder at the 4A state tournament, St. George, Utah, May 14, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

The Warriors and Mustangs join Desert Hills and Cedar as the four Region 10 representatives in the eight-team field in the 4A state tournament, which begins Wednesday, May 17 at Cottonwood Softball Complex in Salt Lake City.

That venue will host the second day of the tournament as well, Thursday, May 18.

Then the final two days of the event will be held on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20.

Complete softball brackets can be viewed at the UHSAA tournament website.

Teams were re-seeded after the super regional round. Region 11’s Ridgeline (24-3) is the No. 1 team and Bear River (21-5) is No. 2 overall.

Snow Canyon (21-9) is the fourth seed, facing No. 5 Crimson Cliffs (14-7) Wednesday, May 17 at noon.

Co-Region 10 champ Desert Hills (18-5), which shares the region title with Snow Canyon, drew the third seed and will play No. 6 Sky View (13-11-1) Wednesday, May 17, also at noon.

Cedar (13-13) defeated Logan in the super regionals to claim the No. 7 seed. The Reds will be tested immediately against second-seed Bear River in another noon start on Wednesday, May 17.

Follow complete coverage of the 4A state softball tournament in the St. George News and at The Fan Sports Network..

Snow Canyon sweeps Pine View

Senior Emma Daniel pitched five solid innings for the Warriors in the 11-1 win on Saturday, yielding one run off of four hits. She walked one and struck out seven Panthers from the bump.

Snow Canyon’s Avery Thorkelson (16) attempts to tag out a Pine View runner in a 4A super regional playoff softball game, St. George, Utah, May 13, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Meanwhile the offense plated four runs in both the first and second innings and three more in the third to cruise to victory.

Snow Canyon coach Markay Thorkelson told St. George News that’s exactly what she hopes to see from the offense this week at state.

“We have to bring our bats,” Thorkelson said. “That’s something we have to be ready to do.”

Alyssa Staheli plated three RBI with her two hits to pace the Warriors offense. Avery Thorkelson also hit twice, both doubles, and collected four RBI for the winners. Kennadi Gates contributed a hit and two RBI for the Warriors.

The Warriors defeated the Panthers 8-0 in their first super regional contest Friday night.

Senior Avery Thorkelson brought it in the circle. She gave up just three hits in seven full innings and walked none. She sat down 12 Panther batters with strikeouts.

Avery Thorkelson helped her own cause at the plate, driving in two RBI. Daniel, Staheli and Gates each had a double and one RBI for the winners.

Coach Thorkelson said the Warriors were happy to get back on the field after some time off and want to build on the momentum from the two super regional wins. 

“Anytime you get to go play in a state playoff game it’s really good,” she said. “We’re excited to go on to the next game.”

Crimson Cliffs dispatches Green Canyon

The Mustangs advanced after defeating the Wolves on Saturday by a count of 9-3.

Crimson Cliffs slugger Paisley Lantz, here in a file photo, leads the Mustangs into 4A state tournament bracket play, May 14, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Paisley Lantz blasted a homerun in the win, driving in two Mustangs. Hallee Tebbs doubled and had two RBI and Riley Askland finished with two RBI as well.

Kaydee Roberts, Abbey Morris and Alexis Bang each accounted for one RBI for Crimson Cliffs.

The Mustangs 10-runned the Wolves in Friday’s first game, 14-4. 

McKenna Cahoon set the tone for the winners by throwing eight strikeouts. 

Morris finished with a double, a homer and four RBI. Lantz and Emma Leishman both finished with a pair of runs driven home. Tebbs, Sophie Staheli and Askland also chipped in with one RBI each. 

Snow Canyon defeated Crimson Cliffs twice in Region 10 action earlier this year, with the Warriors taking both contests by a score of 2-1.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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