SANTA CLARA – The Warriors have dominated Region 9 softball for years, so it was no surprise that Snow Canyon High School brought home another Region championship on Wednesday, April 27.
The Warriors defeated Hurricane High School 14-1 in Hurricane to capture at least a share of the region championship. One more win out of the Warriors’ final three games will give the team the outright championship.
Snow Canyon coach Wane Kittrell wasn’t quite sure how many region championships he had been a part of as softball team’s coach.
“I think there’s been one or two years that we haven’t (won the Region championship),” Kittrell said. “That’s not something I focus on too much. Our goal is to play a successful region play and get ourselves ready for the state tournament.”
The Warriors have done what they can to get themselves ready during the season. The green and gold softball team currently has a 15-6 overall record and an 8-1 record in the region. Their resume includes wins over several 5A schools from Nevada and Utah.
The Hurricane Tigers, unfortunately, have not had the same kind of success. This season has been a difficult one for the Tigers that includes a record of 2-14. The two wins came against East High School from Salt Lake City and Dixie High School.
The Tigers couldn’t produce runs before the Warriors exploded in the third inning. Snow Canyon junior pitcher Kacey Rogers was able to shut down the Tigers throughout the game.
Rogers said her changeup was the pitch that worked best for her against the Hurricane hitters. Rogers pitched all five innings in the mercy-rule shortened game. She made sure to give credit to the defensive players around her.
“I love it when they have those days,” she said. “I wouldn’t be anything without them.”
Kittrell praised Rogers for her performance against Hurricane.
“I thought she did a good job of hitting her spots,” he said. “We had a couple of walks that kind of got away from us, but other than that I thought she pitched a great game.”
Rogers said the team is starting to feel the excitement as the postseason draws near.
“We’ve had a rough little patch, but we’ve gotten over it,” she said. “We’re up there. We’re doing really good.”
The Warriors look to win the region championship outright against the Dixie Flyers on Friday, April 29 at 4 p.m. at Snow Canyon High School.
“I’m tickled the way we’re playing—the way we’re coming together as a team,” Kittrell said. “Hopefully we can keep playing that way—knock on wood.”
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