The Payson Lions will face off against the Uintah Utes at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Payson is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.7 runs per game this season.
While Payson's win against Orem wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Lions had just enough and edged out the Tigers 8-7. The Lions haven't had any issues with the Tigers recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
Peyton Staheli
| 03/20/25 vs Timpanogos | 1 |
| 03/14/25 vs Emery | 4 |
| 03/11/25 vs Springville | 8 |
| 03/25/25 vs Mountain View | 9 |
| 03/04/25 vs Skyridge | 13 |
Peyton Staheli spent all 11 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and one unearned) runs on six hits and racked up 21 Ks. Those 21 strikeouts set a new season-high mark for her.
On the hitting side, Mahaila Buys and Anna Marvin did most of the damage at the plate: Buys scored a run while going 3-for-4, while Marvin scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2. What's more, Buys posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Lucy Jessen, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-4.
Meanwhile, Uintah faced Timpanogos in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Tuesday. The Utes came out on top against the Timberwolves by a score of 6-2. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Utes.
Lynlee Hall was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over eight innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off eight hits (and only one walk). Hall was also big at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
Hall wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Sophia Pope, who scored two runs while going 1-for-3.
Payson pushed their record up to 10-2 with the win, which was their third straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.0 runs on average over those games. As for Uintah, their win bumped their record up to 10-4.
Uintah's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Payson has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 10.2 hits per game. It's a different story for Uintah, though, as they've been averaging 9.1 hits. Given Payson's sizable advantage in that area, the Utes will need to find a way to close that gap.
Payson took their victory against Uintah in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 11-4 score. Do the Lions have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Utes turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
