Region 9 softball: Reds, Thunder, Warriors all unbeaten in region play; hits, runs aplenty

Written by E. George Goold
March 30, 2024
Cedar's Sadie Parson delivers a pitch vs. Crimson Cliffs, Cedar City, Utah, March 29, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

ST. GEORGE — Three teams are emerging from the masses as Cedar, Desert Hills and Snow Canyon are all unbeaten so far in Region 9 softball.

However, that comes at the expense of the other four teams in the region – Pine View, Dixie, Crimson Cliffs and Hurricane – who are a collective 2-17 in Region 9 games so far this year.

Following are recaps of the Region 9 softball games last week. Dixie (5-9 overall, 0-3 in Region 9) had its bye week. 

Cedar 1, Crimson Cliffs 0 | Cedar 3, Crimson Cliffs 1

Cedar shortstop Mya Bishoff swings at a pitch from Crimson Cliffs pitcher Gracee Stucki, Cedar City, Utah, March 29, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

The Cedar Reds prevailed in two low-scoring contests to sweep Crimson Cliffs this week. 

In Tuesday night’s contest at Crimson, the only run came in the top of the second inning on a fielder’s choice play, with shortstop Mya Bishoff coming in from third to score as Sadie Parson grounded into a double play. 

Parson pitched all seven innings of the shutout, allowing five hits and walking three while striking out 12.

Then, on Friday afternoon at Cedar, Parson again went the distance for the Reds, throwing six scoreless innings before allowing one run on a fielding error in the top of the seventh.

Cedar’s three runs came early in the game. Kaitlin Bulloch belted a double in the bottom of the first, bringing in Kyla Johnson, who had walked to lead off the game. 

Bulloch later scored when Bishoff reached base safely on an error. Cedar added another run in the second inning on a single by Kyla Johnson. 

Parson finished with 12 strikeouts once again, allowing one unearned run, three hits and zero walks.

Cedar improved to 11-4 overall and 6-0 in region play. Crimson Cliffs slipped to 7-8, 1-5 after the loss.

— written by Jeff Richards

Desert Hills 11, Hurricane 3 | Desert Hills 12, Hurricane 1

Desert Hills followed its so-far very successful script of relying on Lulu West’s pitching, good defense and powerful offense in two big wins over Hurricane.

Tuesday night in St. George, West struck out eight Tigers and the Thunder scored at least once in all six innings of the contest.

Bailey Lee led the Thunder’s bats, booming a double, a homer and three RBIs. Payten Benson also went yard and West helped her own cause with two RBIs in the win.

Thursday night in Hurricane, Desert Hills was held scoreless in two frames but rolled to the win after a 5-run seventh inning.

The Thunder batters cranked out 15 hits in the win. 

Benson led the way with three hits and four RBIs. She also homered, as did Desert Hills sophomore Nelyana Brinlagh. Campbell Tate hit a double, a triple and collected four RBIs in the win.

On the bump, West scattered six hits over seven innings. She walked three and struck out 10 Tigers batters. 

Desert Hills upped its overall record to 13-2 and went to 5-0 in Region 9. Hurricane is 11-7, 1-5.

Snow Canyon 18, Pine View 2 | Snow Canyon 21, Pine View 0

Tuesday at Snow Canyon, the Warriors used a six-run third and an eight-run fourth to roll over the Panthers.

Snow Canyon’s Avery Thorkelson pitches against Pine View, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

Senior Chandler Beck had a big game for the Warriors, crushing two home runs, collecting five RBIs and scoring three times.

Seniors Meah Stafford and Avery Thorkelson also went yard and drove in two RBIs apiece for the winners. Snow Canyon pounded out 16 hits in the win.

Thorkelson cruised to the victory on the bump, hurling three innings. She struck out seven and walked one.

Pine View sophomore Brenika Frandsen hit a two-run home run for the visitors.

The story was similar when the teams rematched at Pine View on Thursday except this time, Snow Canyon used a 15-run seventh inning to secure the big win.

Alyssa Staheli swung the big bat for Snow Canyon this time, hitting a home run among her two hits for five RBIs. Allie Landis and Beck each drove in three RBIs in the triumph.

Thorkelson, a Snow College recruit, hurled a no-hitter for the Warriors. She threw six innings, walked four batters and K’d 12 Panthers.

Snow Canyon is 13-2 overall and 4-0 in Region 9. Pine View is 2-10 overall and winless in Region 9 games.

Region 9 softball games, Tuesday, April 2, 7 p.m.:

  • Cedar at Desert Hills
  • Crimson Cliffs at Snow Canyon
  • Dixie at Pine View

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, 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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