photography / Troy Boman Grantsville junior Korryn Coates slides into home plate safely against Bear River on Wednesday. Even with the run, the Cowboys still lost to the Region 11 leading Bears.

by Mark Watson

SPORTS EDITOR

The middle innings continue to be a problem for Grantsville when it faces region nemesis and the state's No.1-ranked team Bear River.

The first time these two teams met, the Bears scored five of their six runs in the fourth and fifth innings to down the Cowboys 6-1. On Wednesday, Bear River scored eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings en route to a 10-6 victory and the Region 11 championship.

Grantsville will finish second regardless of the outcome of its game on Friday with Morgan.

The Cowboys were much better offensively this time around against the Bears scoring six runs on nine hits. But defensively they were not as good with six errors in the game including three in one inning.

"Bear River is a great team. You nearly have to play a perfect game to beat them," said Grantsville coach Heidi Heath. "Committing six errors along with some passed balls just won't get it done."

With Tooele now in 4A, Bear River coach Calvin Bingham says Grantsville is the only team in the region that gives his team a challenge. He said the Bears and Cowboys could possibly end up playing for the state championship.

"I wouldn't doubt it if you see us both battling again for a state title. Their coach (Heath) has just done a tremendous job. It was good for us to hang on and win this today in cold weather. To be honest our region is not very tough and the other teams just don't get you ready to play a team like Grantsville."

After a scoreless two innings, the Bears struck for two in the third inning on a controversial play.

With two outs and runners at second and third, Grantsville shortstop Kelsi Wells ran to her left to snag a bloop pop fly but could not make the play with the base runner in her way. Heath argued with the umpire that the runner made contact with Wells and the inning should have ended there. The two umpires discussed the play and ruled in favor of Bear River.

The Bears still had two aboard in the inning, but Grantsville pitcher Natalie Peterson struck out her seventh batter of the game to end the Bear River rally.

Grantsville tied it in the third. With Mallory Oltjenbruns and Korryn Coates on base, Annie Young smacked a two-run single to even the game. The Cowboys still had the bases loaded with one out, but Bears' pitcher Josi Summers struck out the next two batters.

A walk and two errors helped Bear River load the bases in the fourth. A triple to the left-center field gap scored three runs for the Bears followed by a double to score a fourth run and push the visitor's lead to 6-2. Grantsville stranded two runners in the fourth.

Bear River jumped out to a 10-2 lead with five runs in the fifth on two hits. Grantsville committed two errors and hit a batter to keep the inning going for the Bears. Lindsey Dalton came on to pitch for the Cowboys with no outs in the fifth and retired three straight hitters to stop the bleeding.

The Cowboys sliced the lead to 10-4 in their half of the fifth. Lynnzie Valdez singled, reached second on an error, scooted to third on a sacrifice fly and then stole home on a wild pitch. Jillian Harris scored on an RBI single by Breanna Bunderson.

The Cowboys added two more in the seventh thanks to a lead-off double by Valdez. She advanced on the base paths and eventually stole home on a wild pitch. Pinch runner Laura Snow scored Grantsville's sixth run when Wells pounded a double.

Grantsville hosts Morgan on Friday, plays at Pleasant Grove on Wednesday and will play an opening game in the state tournament on May 10.

mwatson@tooeletranscript.com