ROY -- With the "Black Swarm" enveloping another victim, the scene shifts southward for next week's state 5-A tournament.
Undefeated Region 1 champion Roy High is one of four unbeaten softball teams headed to Taylorsville's Valley Complex on Tuesday after blanking Brighton 3-0 on Thursday at Sand Ridge Park in the second round of the 5-A playoffs.
"I'm excited to get to the Valley Complex next week. I've been there for summer ball, but not for the state tournament, so I'm pretty excited," said Royals freshman left fielder Jordynn Barrera.
Barrera, a 15-year-old freshman who attends Roy Junior High, reached base twice and had two RBIs -- a run-scoring single in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the fourth -- in Roy's eighth consecutive victory.
"I'm not really surprised we're in this position. We're a really good team all-around," she said. "It's tough going to junior high and playing up, but it's cool and I love it. The team has accepted me, and I have exceptionally good teammates."
Junior right-hander MaCauley Flint tossed a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk.
Flint, 17, has 15 individual season shutouts, and Roy has not allowed a run in seven straight state tournament games dating back to its 2009 4-A championship season.
Flint walked Bengals leadoff batter Lauren Miller to start the game, then retired the next eight batters before Miller had a two-out, third-inning single.
She set down the next 10 Brighton batters before Shelbi Everett singled leading off the seventh. Flint only pitched to three batters over the minimum.
"We saw Brighton as a challenge and to just bring it," Barrera said. "I feel confident playing behind MaCauley, and if they hit it, we have a strong defense. ... As long as you come up big when there is a hit.
"I think we're good enough to win state again, I really do," she said. "As long as we play our game and nobody else's. Our team goes deep and all of us have played a long time. We get along really well and good team chemistry is important. If we didn't have it, we wouldn't be as good."
Flint went 2-for-3 with a stolen base; Bryce Mitchell drilled a double and scored two runs; and Breanne Vandersteen had an RBI single and a run for the Royals, who play Taylorsville on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
* TAYLORSVILLE 6, FREMONT 4: At Taylorsville, the Silver Wolves (15-9) fell behind 6-2 after five innings before scoring two seventh-inning runs.
* LONE PEAK 3, SYRACUSE 2: At Highland, the Titans stranded seven base runners in scoring position, and committed three errors in the Knights' two-run fourth inning with Lone Peak going hitless in the inning.
Sylvanna Kelley went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI single, reached base on a fielder's choice and scored a run, and Timmarie Taylor had an RBI fielder's choice for Syracuse (17-7-1).
Junior right-hander Ashley Ostler struck out nine and didn't issue a walk.'
* DAVIS 3, SKYLINE 2 (EIGHT INNINGS): At Salt Lake City, Morgan Pifer scored the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth inning on an Eagles' throwing error.
Pifer started at second base in the international tiebreaker, advancing to third on Jaden Anderson's push-bunt single.
After two outs, Cheyne Moffett hit a ground ball to the left side and Skyline overthrew first base.
Anderson had an RBI sacrifice and Pifer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for Davis (11-10).
Senior right-hander McKenzy MacKay allowed seven hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.
4-A playoffs
* BONNEVILLE 3, WESTLAKE 0: At Washington Terrace's CD Field, junior right-hander Amber Hancock blanked the Thunder on two hits with 11 Ks and two walks.
Steph Mark hit a solo homer -- No. 13 on the season -- and Alex Weaver had an RBI single for the Region 5 champion Lakers (20-4).
* TOOELE 8, BOX ELDER 3: At Brigham City, the 4-A runner-up Buffaloes dumped the Bees (15-8) into the one-loss bracket.
Senior right-hander Mattie Snow had 12 strikeouts for Tooele.
3-A tournament
* BEAR RIVER 14, CEDAR CITY 4 (FIVE INNINGS): At Taylorsville's Valley Complex, the two-time defending state 3-A champion Bears spanked the Redmen and are one of four remaining undefeated teams in the 3-A tournament.
Bear River (23-4) tangles with Region 12 champion North Sanpete today at noon. The unbeaten Region 11 champion Bears dropped the Hawks 8-1 on March 20 at the SUNROC Invitational in St. George.
Senior right-hander Nicole Johnson gave up five hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
Morgan Summers went 3-for-4 and scored two runs for Bear River, which had a 12-run third inning.
Johnson was 2-for-3 with two RBIs; Marlee Mecham went 3-for-3 with a two-run double and three runs; and Kelli Smart singled, walked, reached base on a fielder's choice and scored three runs.
The Bears are riding a six-game winning streak.
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