The Salem Hills Skyhawks will challenge the Springville Red Devils at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Salem Hills is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. Everything went their way against Wasatch as they made off with a 19-8 win. Winning may never get old, but the Skyhawks sure are getting used to it with their fifth in a row.
Jocile Norman made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out eight batters over four innings while giving up three earned runs off seven hits (and not a single walk). Norman was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one run and one double.
In other batting news, Audree Stokes was a standout: she got on base in four of her five plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. She continues to improve, besting her previous run total in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Leila Stevenson, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and two RBI.
Salem Hills always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .658. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Wasatch only posted an OBP of .462.
Meanwhile, Springville won against Hillcrest on Thursday with ten runs and they decided to stick to that run total again on Friday. The Red Devils didn't even let the Huskies on the board, marking the Red Devils' second-straight 10-0 shutout.
Like Salem Hills, Springville also got a great game from a two-way player: Allyx Haveron. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits over six innings pitched. Haveron has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Mary Finlayson, who went 2-for-4 with one home run. Morgan Fairbourne was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
Salem Hills' record is now 27-1. As for Springville, their record now sits at 21-9.
Salem Hills' speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's contest. The Skyhawks have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Springville, though, as they've been averaging only 0.8 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Salem Hills continue to outrun the ball?
Salem Hills beat Springville 5-2 in their previous matchup back in April. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Skyhawks since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
