For the first time this season, Pine View will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will head out on the road to face off against the Desert Hills Thunder at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The last three games Pine View has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Pine View gave up the first runs on Saturday, but they didn't let that get them down. They had just enough and edged out Payson 9-8. That's two games straight that the Panthers have won by just one run.
Parker Heath
| 03/22/25 vs Payson | 3 |
| 03/07/25 vs Cedar | 2 |
| 03/20/25 @ Emery | 1 |
| 03/15/25 vs Grantsville | 1 |
| 03/15/25 vs Murray | 1 |
The team relied heavily on Parker Heath, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI and one run. Those three hits gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Tristen Sylvester, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3.
Pine View was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .440. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Payson only posted a batting average of .200.
Meanwhile, Desert Hills put another one in the bag on Saturday to keep their perfect season alive. They put the hurt on Spanish Fork with a sharp 11-2 win. The result was nothing new for the Thunder, who have now won six contests by seven runs or more so far this season.
Stoakli Tate was a standout: he scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-3. Briggs Fillmore also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Desert Hills' victory was their 14th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 12-0. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 4.0 runs on average over those games. As for Pine View, they have been performing well recently as they've won five of their last six matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 9-2-1 record this season.
Wednesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Pine View has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .467. However, it's not like Desert Hills struggles in that department as they've averaged .500. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pine View might still be hurting after the 18-2 loss they got from Desert Hills when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can Pine View avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
