Payson hasn't had much luck against Spanish Fork recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Lions will challenge the Dons at 3:30 p.m. Payson has given up an average of 8.7 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Payson managed to slip by Springville the last time these teams faced off, but didn't have those same answers this time around. The Lions lost 19-6 to the Red Devils on Tuesday. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since May 18, 2023, but that streak is no more.
Paisley Maxwell and Aydrie Christensen stepped up to the plate in a big way. Maxwell went 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Christensen went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Mahaila Buys was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Spanish Fork had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Tuesday. Everything went their way against the Vikings as they made off with a 17-1 win. 17 seems to be a good number for the Dons as the squad scooped up a victory with the same number of runs in their previous game.
Paizley Boman was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over six innings while giving up just one earned run off eight hits (and not a single walk). Boman was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Lia Higginson, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, four runs, and two triples. Those two triples gave her a new career-high. Taylani Reid also deserves some recognition as she launched her first home run of the season.
Spanish Fork hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in five consecutive contests.
Spanish Fork's record is now 7-4. As for Payson, they now have a losing record of 5-6.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Payson hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .394. However, it's not like Spanish Fork struggles in that department as they've averaged .347. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Payson was able to grind out a solid win over Spanish Fork in their previous meeting back in March of 2025, winning 8-5. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Lions since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
