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Heber City • Twelve straight games without giving up a run was definitely something the Uintah Utes could brag about as the Class 3A state tournament approached.

But Wednesday's come-from-behind 7-6 victory over Wasatch was probably much more indicative of the kind of tussles the Utes will be in come tourney time.

"We just haven't run into anybody that can hit the ball like these guys," said Uintah sophomore Jaden Lance of the recent shutout streak. "We knew that we had to come out playing. These are my favorite games because they're nice and intense. You know, it's not over in the third inning."

Lance had the game winner in the top of the seventh when she hammered a pitch over the top of a 20-foot high scoreboard behind the leftfield fence.

"They hit a few shots, didn't they?" Uintah coach Jamey Smuin said.

Uintah (24-3) trailed 5-3 after five innings, but Utes second baseman Brinlee Barker — also a sophomore — clubbed a solo homer to left. After Wasatch recorded a couple of outs, Uintah freshman Kennedy Elmer also went longball to left to tie the game.

"I think they're young enough, and not smart enough, to quit," said the Uintah coach, whose team will host Dixie in a 3A playoff game this Saturday.

The Wasps got one back in the bottom of the seventh against Utes' pitcher Summer Stensgard when Torri Bills, who doubled to start the frame, scored on an error.

But Stensgard, yet another sophomore, got a strikeout and two fly balls to end the affair.

"It was nice to come to Heber and have them hit at us. We had a month where the defense didn't have to do much," said Smuin of the Utes' 12-game stretch where they outscored their opponents a collective 169-0. "That's what we've been worried about - the defense not being ready."

Indeed, Wasatch (13-13) was a different kind of animal for Uintah. Although the Wasps were effectively eliminated from Class 4A playoff contention in tough Region 8 when Salem Hills beat Maple Mountain last week, the Wasatch batters were striking Stensgard's offerings hard at times.

Jenson Baker drove a ball to deep center in the first for a triple and a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Ashley Sweat clubbed a double to the fence and eventually scored to tie the game at 3-3.

Then, in the fifth, Bills broke the tie with a homer to left-center as Wasatch eventually scored another run to go up by two.

Two years ago, Wasatch made the transition from Class 3A to 4A. Next year, it'll be Uintah's turn and, in fact, the Utes will join the Wasps in the same region.

"I told him [Smuin], you're getting ready to get a big wake-up call next year," Wasatch coach Doug Kinsman said. "Man, he's got a good solid team, but it's a big jump and we've been going through growing pains the last couple of years." Uintah 7, Wasatch 6

• Uintah sophomore Jayden Lance clobbered a two-run homer deep left to break a 5-5 tie in the seventh.

• The visiting Utes trailed 5-3 after five before sophomore Brinlee Barker and freshman Kennedy Elmer blasted solo shots to knot the score.

• Wasatch shortstop Torri Bills also went deep in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie.