Prep softball: Bonneville battles but blanked by Bountiful 3-0
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- Bonneville’s Aya Larson (1) swings at a Bountiful pitch on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville’s Shelbee Johnson attempts a bunt against Bountiful on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bountiful’s Aspyn Danner stops near third base in front of Bonneville’s dugout on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville’s Kaylee McAfee runs the bases against Bountiful on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bountiful’s Frankie Galeana runs to first base against Bonneville on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville’s Shelbee Johnson prepares to catch an out against Bountiful on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bountiful’s Claire Yates, left, swings at a Bonneville pitch on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bountiful’s Jaci Alvey throws the softball against Bonneville on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bountiful’s Athena Tongaonevai hits a Bonneville pitch on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
WASHINGTON TERRACE — When the UHSAA released the RPI standings this week, No. 4 Bonneville knew it had a difficult schedule with games against No. 3 Box Elder and second-ranked Bountiful on the slate.
The Lakers took care of business Tuesday against the Bees but came up short against the Redhawks on Thursday afternoon.
Bountiful pitcher Ella Miller struck out 13 and only allowed two hits as the Redhawks shut out Bonneville 3-0 in a showdown of the top two teams in Region 5.
“Our bats have actually been so good … we struggled a little bit. We tried to prepare for that speed; just couldn’t hit the ball today,” Bonneville coach Shelby Healy said. “She’s their best pitcher, the best we’ve faced so far this year. She moves the ball; with her rise ball you have to adjust your hands.”
While Miller mowed down the Lakers with six strikeouts in the first two innings, Bonneville starter Chandlyr Noble matched goose eggs on the scoreboard through the first three innings.
“I pitched the ball and they hit it, but my team backs me up; I’m able to spin the ball so they only get a piece of it and I usually get pop-ups and easy groundouts,” Noble said.
Bonneville shortstop Kaylee McAfee made a diving stop in the hole and threw out the runner at first in the second inning and right fielder Elle Summers snared a slicing drive down the line in the fourth to keep the Lakers even at zero.
But Bountiful (13-2, 6-0 Region 5) finally broke through when shortstop Isabeau Hoff smashed a one-out home run over the left-center fence for a 1-0 lead.
Hoff added an RBI double in a two-run sixth, giving the Redhawks additional cushion they didn’t need.
“I know (Hoff); she’s a home-run hitter,” Noble said. “I knew she’s a good hitter and I just pitched the ball she wanted, and she hit it right over. She’s a senior, so I’ve been pitching against her for four years.”
Noble scattered eight hits over a seven-inning complete game, walking two and striking out a pair.
“It’s always exciting to get a strikeout, but in these games it’s kind of hard and you’ve got to know to stick in there and do your job,” Noble said. “With tougher teams it’s like that. Most games we play I get quite a few strikeouts; with better teams, they hit the ball.”
McAfee was on base three times for the Lakers, while third baseman Annie Stevenson and first baseman Mylee Pedersen had singles for the two hits.
Bonneville (10-2, 4-1) still has a lot to play for, with more than half the region schedule and a rematch against the Redhawks remaining.
“Keep our heads high. We know we play them again, and we’ll come back and play a good game,” Noble said.
Healy also reminded her team they still have a lot to play for.
“You try to keep going and learn from it. Box Elder, Bountiful and us are all good teams and we’ll battle to the very end,” she said. “The one thing about my team is they don’t quit, so this won’t get us down. I fully expect we’ll bounce back and hopefully get them the next time.”