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Sandy • A wrist injury to Alta's Brooke VanderHeide turned an anticipated matchup of two state title contenders into little more than a high-stakes scrimmage Thursday.
VanderHeide (19-1, 1.63 ERA), a BYU commit who threw all but 7 1/3 innings for the Hawks in the regular season, developed tendinitis after throwing nine innings Tuesday, and was unable to pitch.
Maple Mountain capitalized on the misfortune and blew out the host Hawks, 19-1, to remain in the winners' bracket of the Class 4A state playoffs.
"I feel like we just came and no matter who we saw, whoever they throw, we're just going to hit," Maple Mountain shortstop Sydnie Wilson said. "We didn't let it get into our heads whether she was hurt or not. We had fun and relaxed."
Wilson went 5-for-5 with a three-run home run, three doubles and six RBIs for the Golden Eagles (17-8), one of three Region 8 teams to advance in the top part of the bracket. Maple Mountain will play Box Elder on Tuesday in a rematch of the Bees' 5-4 victory March 11 in St. George.
Mickie Mills added a grand slam as the Golden Eagles racked up 15 hits and a season high in runs against Alta pitchers Jaden Williams and Hailey Visser.
Maple Mountain had no such pitching woes. Peyton Hunter struck out 11 batters and retired 11 of the final 12 in her six-inning outing. The senior has 25 strikeouts in two playoff starts.
"She's been pitching lights out," Maple Mountain coach Cassie Reese said. "She's on fire. She's the one we'll ride. Hopefully we can ride her three more. I hope it only takes three more."
Alta (21-2) lost for the first time since April 11, and has allowed 30 runs in the playoffs after surrendering just 41 in the regular season. Coach Tiffany Airmet said the plan is to give VanderHeide six days' rest, which should allow her to take the ball Tuesday against Region 6 champion Murray.
VanderHeide played shortstop and center field Thursday and went 2-for-3 with the Hawks' lone run scored. —
4A scoreboard
Thursday's second round Winners' bracket • Maple Mountain 19, Alta 1 • Box Elder 1, Springville 0 • Spanish Fork 11, Bountiful 1 • Uintah 6, East 5 Losers' bracket • Woods Cross 7, Kearns 6 • Cyprus 9, Provo 5 • Corner Canyon 3, Olympus 2 • Murray 6, Timpanogos 5 Tuesday's games Winners' bracket • Maple Mountain vs. Box Elder, 4:30 p.m. • Spanish Fork vs, Uintah, 6:45 p.m. Losers' bracket • East vs. Woods Cross, noon • Bountiful vs. Cyprus, noon • Springville vs. Corner Canyon, 2:15 p.m. • Alta vs. Murray, 2:15 p.m.