| A Delta hit rockets past Carbon short stop Morgan Warburton during the April 28 regular season closer. Carbon lost to the Rabbits 19-17 despite leading for the majority of the game. The Lady Dinos finish third in Region 8 and advance to a first round state play-off game on May 8. |
After scoring nine in the third, Carbon seemed to have all the runs they needed to easily take the April 28 game against Delta High.
However, the Lady Dinos weren’t prepared for the 11 run final inning the Lady Rabbits mustered to win the closing game of the regular season.
Delta made the first major strike in the game, scoring four runs in the second to go up on the Lady Dinos 4-1.
Carbon countered in the bottom of the third with nine but was immediately hit with four more Delta runs in the fourth.
By the time the two teams entered the seventh, the back and forth contest had slowed in Carbon’s favor and the Lady Dinos led 11-8.
But, the instability that had characterized the entire game finally caught up with the Lady Dinos and things came crashing down.
“The wheels just came off and everything that could have gone wrong did,” coach Tony Pinedo commented.
Carbon was unable to get outs when they were needed and Delta took advantage of the reeling team with 11 runs.
Carbon nearly turned the game back around in the bottom of the seventh, starting the inning with back-to-back singles by Lacey Timothy and Morgan Warburton followed by back-to-back home runs by Brittany Pollastro and Halee Rasmussen.
With two outs left, Carbon had bases loaded and only trailed by two. A sharply hit grounder to third ended the game for Carbon, 17-19.
Carbon finishes in third place in Region 8, improving from last place in 2003.
Pinedo said he feels like the team improved a lot as compared to last season and was much more competitive in their losses.
“In league play, there was never a game we couldn’t have won,” he pointed out.
Tooele and Grantsville will play today to decide which second place team the Dinos will be matched against for the first round state play-off game.Tooele is the defending 3A champion.
Pinedo said the Dinos will have to be disciplined at the plate, play extremely solid defense and stay relaxed in order to defeat either Region 11 team.
“If the team shows up that I have seen before, we can beat any team in the state,” he asserted.
Carbon has not advanced to a playoff game since 2001, leaving the majority of the team without state softball experience.
However, as many of the athletes were members of the state-contending volleyball and basketball teams, Pinedo said the high pressure experience is still there.
“Coach Bean has done such a good job with his programs, I think some of it should carry over,” Pinedo remarked.
The Lady Dinos’ play-off game will take place May 8 at 10 a.m. in St. George.
With a win the team would automatically advance to the state tournament in Spanish Fork.
The remaining team will play the loser between Snow Canyon and Wasatch.