The Springville Red Devils will take on the Payson Lions at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Springville had to skate by with only a two-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the seven-run drubbing they dealt Wasatch on Tuesday. The Red Devils blew past the Wasps 11-4. The Red Devils might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won ten games by seven runs or more this season.
Allyx Haveron was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits (and only one walk). Haveron was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, Springville got a big performance out of Jaz Ciliezar, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. Morgan Fairbourne was another key player, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
Springville was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .414. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Wasatch only posted a batting average of .286.
Meanwhile, Payson had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 8.5 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Tuesday. They put the hurt on the Vikings with a sharp 15-9 victory.
Like Springville, Payson also got a great game from a two-way player: Aydrie Christensen. She tossed five innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits. Christensen was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one home run and two runs.
In other batting news, Haven Jarvis and Mahaila Buys did most of the damage at the plate: Jarvis went 2-for-4 with five RBI, two doubles, and one run, while Buys went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Anna Marvin, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
Springville's win bumped their record up to 16-6. As for Payson, their victory bumped their record up to 12-9.
Payson's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Springville has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.8 hits per game. It's a different story for Payson, though, as they've been averaging 9.4 hits. Given Springville's sizable advantage in that area, the Lions will need to find a way to close that gap.
Springville got the 'W' in their previous matchup back in March against Payson by a conclusive 19-6 score. Do the Red Devils have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Lions turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
