SPANISH FORK - The dark cloud hovering over the Grand softball team evaporated just in time for the Red Devils to make a surprising postseason run.
    After spending the season squabbling over playing time and winning only five region games, Grand stormed into the Class 2A state tournament Saturday and knocked off top-seeded North Summit 4-2. Later in the day, Grand bested third-seeded Enterprise 11-2.
    A week ago, coach Randy Day was so fed up with the Red Devils' infighting that he threatened to kick everyone off the team if they couldn't get along. Actually, he threatened much worse.
    "I threatened to just kill them all," Day said jokingly. "They tore each other apart all year."
    Day's ultimatum worked. The proof? Just check the scoreboard.
    "Once they stopped [the negativity]," Day said, "they jelled."
    And just in the nick of time.
    After an up-and-down regular season that ended with Grand narrowly earning Region 12's final seed, the Red Devils - their attitudes freshly adjusted - headed to Spanish Fork with the belief that they could raise some eyebrows.
    "We knew that we're a better team than we've been showing," said senior Emily Lopez, who went 2-for-4 and made several big defensive plays at second base including a stunning diving catch in the North Summit game.
    "That
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was a big-league catch," Day said. Indeed. People were still talking about the play hours later when the 4-foot-10 Lopez stepped up to the plate in the afternoon game.
    "I think I've always tried to prove myself since I'm smaller than everyone," she said.
    In the win over Enterprise, Grand did much of its damage in the second inning when Lopez and Bre Gray hit back-to-back doubles that led to five runs.
    Enterprise tried to answer back with a big inning of its own, loading the bases in the bottom of the second. The Wolves were unable to capitalize on the situation as Grand pitcher Miranda Gill stranded three base runners.
   
   
    Grand time
   
    * Emily Lopez goes 2-for-4 and shines defensively as Grand beats North Summit 4-2.
    * Lopez and Bre Gray hit back-to-back doubles during an 11-2 win over Enterprise.