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Spanish Fork • It was a performance and a stage befitting the stellar career of South Summit's Hannah Peterson.
The senior pitcher capped perhaps the best career in the history of the program with a dominant 9-1 victory Saturday against Beaver to win South Summit's second Class 2A softball state championship in three years.
Peterson, two years and two days removed from pitching the Wildcats to their first state title, struck out eight and scored two runs as South Summit (24-3) completed an undefeated run through the tournament.
"This feeling is crazy. It never goes away," said Peterson, who earned her 62nd pitching victory in four years. "We've been sending quotes all week in our group text, and I think we knew deep down we knew we could do it. We're a mentally tough team."
South Summit played the entire week — heck, the entire season — with a momentum that few could slow, let alone stop completely. Saturday was no different.
The Wildcats capitalized on a fielding error and two throwing errors by Beaver infielders to effectively put away the game with a five-run first inning.
Peterson's fly ball to left-center field drifted in the wind and off a glove for a two-base error. Three batters later, Nicole Fitzgerald's bases-loaded grounder plated two runs after a wild throw home, and Cassidy Hurtin's sacrifice bunt scored two more after an errant throw to first.
"You could tell they were a little rattled, and when you get up 5-0 with the pitching we have, it's certainly an advantage," South Summit coach Gary Bowen said. "This is as flawless a game as we have played defensively. We were all over the field catching balls. It's rewarding as a coach to know that all our hard work has paid off."
Peterson knew just what to do with that five-run cushion. She allowed just two hits over the final five innings, retiring 14 of the final 15 batters she faced.
"We're like a family," Fitzgerald said. "I love every single one of my teammates, and the feeling I have in indescribable. I love, love, love this."
Alayna Hansen had two hits and two runs for South Summit, the Region 2A Central champion, which ended the season with 13 consecutive victories.
Talynn Brown's single in the second scored Tavy Gale for the only run for Beaver (21-7), which defeated Manti 8-5 in an elimination game earlier Saturday.
South Summit 9, Beaver 1
R South Summit scores five runs in the first inning with the help of three Beaver errors.
• Alayna Hansen has two hits and scores two runs, while Hannah Peterson strikes out eight for the Wildcats.
• It's South Summit's second state title in three seasons.