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Taylorsville • In his team's season opener, Taylorsville softball coach Rich Kaelin did some major tinkering with the lineup during the game. The adjustments have kept right on coming in ensuing contests and, according to Kaelin, he's not done yet.

But he may be much closer these days.

With a pair of freshmen inserted into the batting order, the Warriors overwhelmed previously-unbeaten Uintah in a 12-2 rout.

Ninth-grader Jazmyn Rollins may have started off with a strikeout, but her speed was a constant potential source of trouble on the basepaths. And even when using a slap swing technique, often employed by speedy runners to beat out grounders, Rollins showed some mighty power.

In the second inning, Rollins slapped a pitch straight over the right-centerfield fence for a two-run homer.

"It was a slap hit. And she did it last night too [Thursday against Herriman]," Kaelin said. "Her bat speed is amazingly fast. Her one last night never got over 15 feet — it was a line drive."

Rollins and fellow frosh Mackenzy Richins were on the lineup card against the Utes. Both started the season as reserves.

"We still haven't settled with a lineup, but we're getting closer," Kaelin said. "We found out that Jaz wants to be the lead-off and she's doing well. She likes the pressure and likes to be there. And it's kind of settled everyone else down in their position.

"This is a really, really nice group of girls and sometimes that gets us in trouble," he added. "Instead of being the group that's really focused and is going to rip you, they're the group that's going to smile at you."

Taylorsville (4-4) jumped on Uintah starter Summer Stensgard for five runs in the fourth. Besides Rollins dinger, Tayah Gerber also had a two-run single and Asenaca Lesuma added another RBI hit.

Uintah (8-1) rebounded when sophomore Stensgard launched a two-run homer of her own in the top of the third.

But that's all the Utes would get off Warriors' pitcher Caitlyn Littleford.

In the bottom of the fourth, Richins Francine Boston and Tasia Taylor all drove in runs as Taylorsville went up 9-2.

Three more runs in the next inning triggered the 10-run mercy rule that ended the game.

For visiting coach Jamey Smuin, the lopsided defeat might be one that smarts - but in a good way.

After the game, Smuin wasn't opposed to seeing his team endure a loss after eight straight wins to start the season.

"I was hoping we would give them a better challenge. Obviously, I schedule these better teams in preseason to push us," Smuin said. "I always hate to lose, but sometimes a loss is good for you.

"Coming in, we were a little overconfident. They didn't think they had to work as hard as they needed to in practice," the Uintah coach added. "Hopefully, they'll learn from it." —

Storylines

R Freshman Jazmyn Rollins slammed a two-run homer for Taylorsville in a five-run second inning.

• It was Uintah's first loss after starting the regular season with eight straight wins.

• Warriors' pitcher Caitlyn Littleford gave up a two-run homer to opposing pitcher Summer Stensgard, but shut out the Utes over her other four innings of work.