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Taylorsville • Spanish Fork decided a few years ago to invest heavily in its baseball and softball facilities. The Utah County town hosts numerous youth and adult tournaments.

Judging from its success in high school softball and baseball the past few years, that investment is paying off in state titles.

"Spanish Fork is a softball and baseball town," said the Dons' Cambrie Hazel, who tossed a one-hitter and stayed unbeaten on the year Wednesday when she led her team to a 14-0 thrashing of rival Springville. "Every game we have lots of fans and lots of support."

The Dons have won five softball titles since 2000. The school has captured seven baseball championships since 1988.

Hazel dominated Wednesday. She struck out eight in the five-inning, run-rule game and had a perfect game going until the fifth, when the Red Devils' Mary Fredrickson beat out an infield hit.

"I'd like to talk to the umpire," quipped Spanish Fork coach Don Andrews about the close call at first. "That was a no-hitter he blew. ... She had her changeup going. When she gets a changeup going, she's tough. She is unbeaten. You can't let her get going like this. Since mid-season, she is on a roll."

Spanish Fork has defeated Springville three times by a combined score of 31-1 this season.

Jordyn Bate got things going with a two-run homer in the first, and the Dons exploded for 12 runs in the top of the fourth when they sent 16 batters to the plate and pounded out 11 hits. Bate drove in three more runs in the rally that was keyed by a three-run homer by Aislyn Sharp.

"It's so fun," said Stone McKell, one of only two seniors on a Spanish Fork team that improved to 29-2 this season and will be the heavy favorite to win its third straight state title Thursday. "We were so pumped in the dugout. We had nerves and stuff, but we had a beach theme for today [subs wore grass skirts and had swim toys]. We had the chills going on in the dugout."

Andrews said it can be difficult to beat a good team such as Springville three times in the season. But he didn't seem surprised by the Dons' dominating performance.

"It could have been worse," he said. "We are a good team and we tend to break it open. That's what we did."

Spanish Fork will have two chances to win one game and the title Thursday at the Valley complex. The Dons will get the winner of the noon Springville-Uintah game.

Twitter @tribtomwharton —

Spanish Fork 14, Springville 0

R Cambrie Hazel comes one infield hit from a perfect game and strikes out eight for Spanish Fork.

• Jordyn Bate and Aislyn Sharp each homer for the Dons.

• Spanish Fork will seek its third consecutive 4A title Thursday.