The Springville Red Devils will venture away from home to challenge the Cedar Valley Aviators at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Springville knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past six games -- so hopefully Cedar Valley likes a good challenge.
Springville came out on top against Spanish Fork on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run sixth inning. The Red Devils blew past the Dons 10-4. Considering the Red Devils have won 14 matchups by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Brooklynn Richardson was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched seven innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off eight hits. Richardson was even better at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run and four RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Tyler Haveron, who fired off two home runs and four RBI while going 2-for-4. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Kalia Sjoberg, who went 2-for-3 with one run.
Springville kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in six consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Cedar Valley, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-5 win over Wasatch on Thursday. The victory was some much needed relief for the Aviators as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Mariah Hights was excellent, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Eva Okusi was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Springville has been performing well recently as they've won 11 of their last 14 games. That's provided a nice bump to their 14-5 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.5 runs on average over those games. As for Cedar Valley, their victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-8.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Springville hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .393. However, it's not like Cedar Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .360. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Springville was able to grind out a solid win over Cedar Valley in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, winning 6-2. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Red Devils since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
