This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Taylorsville • The Spanish Fork Dons are back on top of the 4A softball mountain after defeating the Tooele Buffaloes 6-5.

In a wild and crazy state tournament due to rain delays and forced back-to-back games, the Dons outlasted the competition and were the only team left standing on Friday evening.

"I was actually cooler than I thought I would be," said head coach Don Andrews. "I'm starting to mellow with my age."

The day for the Dons started at 10 a.m., when they defeated Mountain Crest 7-2 for the rights to play Tooele in the finals. The Dons were fired up early, scoring three runs in the first inning. Kelli Hales' three-run homer in the fifth put the game away for the Dons, as they won the early matchup 10-5 to force an "if necessary" game since the Buffaloes had been unbeaten in tournament play.

After a 30-minute intermission, the Dons got the chance they had been waiting for all year. Last season, they lost 9-8 to the Buffaloes in the state final and had been craving some revenge ever since. Kylee Wolf's two-run home run gave the Dons an early 3-2 lead during the first inning. But Tooele didn't show any signs of nerves as the defending champs battled back when the game was tied at 5-5 in the sixth.

But all that changed when Lyndsey Healey stepped up to the plate.

The senior blasted a solo home run over the outfield fence and knew it was gone as soon as it hit her bat.

"It's the greatest feeling ever," Healey said. "I knew I was going to hit one over. I got my pitch, and I hit it."

After losing to Mountain Crest in the quarterfinals, the Dons knew they had to come out on fire since one bad game could end their season. First, they knocked off Salem Hills and Uintah on Thursday. The Dons then got their first taste of revenge when they defeated Mountain Crest Friday morning, putting them in a rematch of last year's championship game.

The Dons lived up to the hype and showed why they have one of the best programs in the state.

"Our drive was so focused," Healey said. "We wanted to come back and be the heartbreakers that we are."

cphillips@sltrib.com —

Highlights

R Kelli Hales' three-run homer in the first game gives Spanish Fork a 10-5 lead to force the second game.

• After losing against Mountain Crest on Wednesday, Kailey Christensen won her next five games in three days.

• Lyndsey Healey's solo shot in the sixth was the go-ahead run that put the Buffaloes away for good, and gave the Dons the 4A title.