By Jake Gordon
STAFF WRITER
Most softball teams are now well aware that Tooele is a softball power in the state, but most do not know what it is like to play them following a loss. Payson ran into a Buffalo team looking to get back on track, and it wasn't pretty for the visiting Lions in the 10-0 beating.
Whitnie Griffith, Kelsey Mendenhall and Lauren Folta each had big days at the plate with two RBIs each while Matti Snow gave up only one hit in six innings to help in the bounce-back effort.
Starting out quickly, Snow helped her own cause with a lead-off double and was able to make her way home after a wild pitch by Payson pitcher Shelby Fritchell to give Tooele an early 1-0 lead.
The Buffs were able to earn a single run in each of the opening three innings. In the second Aly Jensen nailed a smoking grounder between the legs of Lions' third baseman Karlie Mangleson scoring Folta.
In the third Brittany Gonzales lined a double just barely underneath the glove of Morissy Bray in left field, as the ball reached the fence scoring Kelsey Mendenhall and giving Tooele a 3-0 lead.
"You do not want to be the team that plays us directly after a loss," said coach Barry Pitt. "We like to take out our frustrations on the next team and we did that well against Payson."
As the innings continued, so did the Tooele scoring. Kelsey Mendenhall was able to rip a clutch single to left bringing in two more runs, as Tooele was cruising offensively and shutting down visiting Payson.
Following an inning where the Buffs were held scoreless for the first time, Tooele made up for it in the sixth inning. Snow started the scoring with a hard single to dead center bringing around Allie Alverson to score. Griffith continued her hot hitting with a single just over the head of Payson second baseman Alexis Bushman bringing in two more runs and a 8-0 lead.
With an opportunity to end the game an inning early Folta came to the plate and quickly hit a hard grounder just off the out-stretched glove of Lion short stop Chelsea Diamond as the two decisive runs for the 10-0 win.
"Sometimes losing a tough game helps a team," said coach Pitt. "It is good that it woke us up and now we are practicing hard and playing just as hard."
Tooele, still undefeated in Region 7 play, will host league nemesis Springville, Thursday at 4 p.m.
jgordon@tooeletranscript.com