Softball team wins No. 2 seed in state playoffs

The Grand County High School softball team made quick work of San Juan in its region finale in Blanding on Tuesday, Feb. 23, beating the Lady Broncos 16-1 in just three innings. With the win, the Grand County High School (GCHS) Lady Red Devils finished the regular season second in the Region 15 standings, earning themselves some home cooking for the opening weekend of the UHSAA Utah State 3A Softball Championship Tournament.

Versus the Lady Broncos, GCHS got five extra-base hits — a double and a home run from Hannah Owen, a triple from Paige Shumway and doubles form Jaci Shumway and Lexi Carroll. Overall, the GCHS Lady Red Devils had 15 hits, while Jaci Shumway earned the pitching win, giving up four hits and one run.

The GCHS Lady Red Devils also went undefeated with three wins and a tie at the Ridgeline Tournament in Logan on Saturday, April 27, finishing the regular season with a 15-5 record, including a 10-2 mark in Region play. Manti finished first in Region 15 at 11-1, 18-5 overall.

GCHS and Manti split a doubleheader in Manti on March 15, with GCHS winning the opening game 3-1 for the Lady Templars’ only region loss, before they bounced back in the night cap with an 11-4 victory.

In the Ridgeline Tournament to finish the regular season, GCHS beat Morgan 6-2, tied Logan 5-5, beat Farmington 11-3 and beat Green Canyon 9-2. Over the course of the four games, GCHS racked up 12 extra-base hits. Jaci Shumway, Paige Shumway and Jessica Jones each added wins to their pitching totals.

“The team is playing so well right now, I feel we are peaking at just the right time,” GCHS softball coach Brook Shumway said. “Everyone is hitting and contributing in different ways.”

The GCHS Lady Red Devils will host three games on Saturday, May 4. The Region 13 runner-up and Region 15 No. 5 seed play at 11 a.m., followed by GCHS versus the Region 14 No. 4 at 1:15 p.m. The losing teams from each game play each other at 3:30 p.m. in the one-loss bracket, while the winning teams advance to play each other in Spanish Fork on May 9. The double-elimination tournament concludes with the state championship on May 11 in Spanish Fork.

GCHS Lady Red Devils to host tourney first round

“The team is playing so well right now, I feel we are peaking at just the right time. Everyone is hitting and contributing in different ways.”

When: Saturday, May 4, at 1:15 p.m.

Where: GCHS softball field, 608 S. 400 East