The Grand County High School softball team lost both games of a home double header versus Manti on Friday, April 20, dropping the first game 6-4 and the second game 5-4, to fall to 2-8 in Region 15 play and 7-15 overall.
Grand led in both games, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first game before relinquishing the advantage in the fourth inning. Jaci Shumway pitched the entire game for Grand, giving up eight hits and two walks while striking out three Lady Templars. She was the offensive star as well, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in. Hailey Cox also had a home run and two runs batted in. Hannah Tangren hit a triple, while Toni McElhaney and Corteney Noyes each hit doubles for Grand, giving the Lady Red Devils extra bases on five of their eight hits. Collectively, the Lady Red Devils struck out seven times.
In the second game, the Lady Red Devils again jumped out to a first-inning lead, going up 1-0. Manti tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning, but Grand went back up 2-1 in the bottom half. The Lady Templars took their first lead in the fifth inning at 3-2, but in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Red Devils scored a pair of runs to take the lead back at 4-3. Manti put a pair of runs across in the top of the seventh to take the lead for the final time at 5-4.
Jessica Jones pitched four innings, giving up two home runs and four runs overall to the Lady Templars. Shumway pitched the other three innings, giving her more than nine innings pitched for the day.
At the plate, Shumway went 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs batted in. Jones also had a run batted in. Tyra Robertson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
“We were right there in both games and Jessica and Jaci pitched great for us,” Grand softball coach Brook Shumway said. “We were just too inconsistent with our bats.”
The Lady Red Devils are sixth in the Region 15 standings as of Monday, April 23, with a 2-8 record. Six of the seven teams in the region will appear in the state tournament, beginning May 5, meaning Grand must finish ahead of either Emery (7-10, 2-6), or Richfield (7-11, 1-8), to make the tournament. The Lady Red Devils were scheduled to play at Emery on Tuesday, April 24. Grand is scheduled to play in a tournament in Logan on Saturday, April 28, before playing at San Juan in the regular season finale on Tuesday, May 1, at 3:30 p.m.
“As long as we beat Emery and San Juan, we will be fine,” Brook Shumway said. “I still believe we can beat anyone in the state.”
Grand clings to sixth in Region 15
“I still believe we can beat anyone in the state.”
Region 15 Standings
North Sanpete 14-3, 9-1
South Sevier 10-6, 7-2
Manti 9-9, 6-4
San Juan 11-5, 5-4
Emery 7-10, 2-6
Grand 7-15, 2-8
Richfield 7-11, 1-8
(As of Monday, April 23)
