Lady Hawks blank Manti in Region 13 matchup

MT. PLEASANT—North Sanpete High School’s softball team ran the table on Manti High School on Tuesday as the Lady Hawks held the Lady Templars scoreless in five innings.

Lady Hawks pitcher Kaecee Johnson allowed only two Manti hits in the 10-0 victory for North Sanpete. With the win, the Lady Hawks’ record increased to 10-0 (2-0), while Manti fell to 4-5 (1-2).

The undisputed player of the game had to be Lady Hawk Rylee Stewart as she tallied a pair of 2-RBI home runs in three at-bats. Afton Cook recorded three runs off one hit, as she reached on a Manti error and was walked in one of her three plate appearances. Kadience Allred penciled in two runs, and Aydree Jacobson and Halie Eliason each scored one run for North Sanpete. Eliason also added a steal in the game.
Danie Alder and Chloe Olson had the lone hits for Manti during each of their two at-bats.

On the mound, Johnson was spectacular as she threw the error-free two-hitter, while adding two strikeouts and a pair of walks. Manti’s Aidali Orozco took the loss for the Lady Templars, throwing six hits for six runs, with two strikeouts and two walks. As Manti’s closer, Alder threw three hits for four runs, with four strikeouts and three walks.

A tough loss to Union at home

The first loss of the season for North Sanpete, a 5-0 blowout, came at the hands of Union’s Lady Cougars on March 27 at home.

Union broke through in the first inning and rode a dominant performance in the circle to hand North Sanpete its first loss of the season, a 5-0 setback March 27 in Mt. Pleasant.

The Lady Cougars scored once in the opening frame and steadily added runs, while limiting the Lady Hawks to just one hit all afternoon. McKenzie Madsen accounted for North Sanpete’s lone base hit, preventing the shutout from becoming a no-hitter.

Union pitcher Haylee Moynier controlled the game throughout, working all seven innings and allowing only Madsen’s hit while striking out 16. She walked two and faced 23 batters in the complete-game effort.

Johnson went the distance in the circle for North Sanpete, pitching seven innings while allowing 11 hits and five runs, three of them earned. Johnson struck out 10 and did not issue a walk, keeping the Lady Hawks within reach despite steady pressure from Union.

Union finished with 11 hits and pushed across runs in multiple innings to gradually extend the lead. The Lady Cougars also played clean defensively, committing just one error and turning away North Sanpete’s limited scoring opportunities.

North Sanpete managed few baserunners outside of Madsen’s hit. The Lady Hawks drew two walks but were unable to string together offense against Moynier.

Defensively, North Sanpete recorded 21 putouts and committed four errors. Stewart led the Lady Hawks with 10 putouts, while Autumn Oldroyd added four. MyLee Cook contributed three putouts and an assist, and Aftyn Cook added two putouts and three assists.

The loss set North Sanpete’s record at 10-1 on the season.

The Lady Hawks will return to the diamond April 7 in Castle Dale to face Emery County High School in a 3A Region 13 matchup.