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History hasn't been on the side of Davis High when it comes to softball.

But the Darts quickly are presenting themselves as a determined, hard-nosed challenger — one that can contend for a first-ever state title — and it starts at the top of the lineup.

"Way to go, Paiges," yelled one Davis supporter in the middle of the team's win over previously top-ranked West High on Wednesday.

That was directed to the two players batting first and second for the Darts — senior Paige Reynolds and sophomore Paige Elkins — just after the two generated a run in the fifth with typical pluck and resourcefulness.

Reynolds, who says she stands 5 foot 1, but that seems generous, started the sequence by getting a hit to center.

When West returned the ball to the infield a little too lazily, Reynolds tore off for second for what had to be scored a double. Then Reynolds, with Elkins at the plate, stole third in a cloud of dust despite an impressive play by West to try to get her.

Elkins, who had been showing herself prepared to lay down a sacrifice bunt, now swung away.

She lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Reynolds.

"I think they're a good representation of the whole team, just gutsy," Davis coach Mylei Zachman said. "Paige Reynolds is the spark you always want on the team. From start to finish, that girl works hard. There's never a play off, never a moment off.

"[Elkins] is a sophomore who wants to get the job done just as much as anyone."

Reynolds is batting .508 and one of only two seniors (first baseman Abbie O'Brien is the other) on the team. Elkins has a .412 average, and with Reynolds hitting right in front of her and frequently on base, that has translated to 25 RBIs. But Elkins has unusual power for the No. 2 spot, having belted a pair of homers and six doubles this season.

"Our whole lineup is pretty solid. From start to finish, we have a pretty solid team," Reynolds said. "Anyone can come in and can mix it up."

Mixing it up is something Davis has done to an unsuspecting Class 5A this season. The Darts have missed the playoffs only three times in the last 10 years, but the vast majority of appearances have been quick exits in the double-elimination tournaments.

The Darts also have been known to mix it up with each other. Most of the team members gathered earlier this year at the Reynolds' house for what they call "Fight Night."

"It gets pretty intense — boxing gloves, we get the music going, cornrows, capes," Reynolds said.

The first two to put on gloves and go after each other were the two Paiges.

"Me and Paige go hard at Fight Night," Elkins said. "It's just for fun. We're not actually fighting each other. It's just bonding time — no head shots. We keep it clean."

"If they're having fun, I'm OK with it," Zachman said.

Zachman is in her 17th season coaching at Davis, and her team moved its winning streak to 15 straight games after beating West and Syracuse last week and is now 17-2 overall and unbeaten in region heading into the homestretch.

Like most coaches, Zachman treads lightly when it comes to comparing her current teams to ones from the past. But even without knowing how the postseason will turn out, Zachman can be pretty confident about her assessment of this edition.

"This is probably one of the best," she said. —

Top of the order

Paige Reynolds and Paige Elkins provide a potent start to the Davis lineup. Here is a look at some of their numbers.

Reynolds batting average • .508

Elkins batting average • .412

Reynolds runs scored • 27

Elkins run scored • 20

Reynolds RBIs • 12

Elkins RBIs • 25

Reynolds SBs • 35

Elkins SBs • 1

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Class 3A state tournament

Starting date • Saturday

Title game date • May 20

Title game location • Spanish Fork Softball Complex

Defending champion • Bear River

Five players to watch • Brianna St. Clair, Jr., Desert Hills, .482 batting average, 37 runs, 14 RBIs, 23-3 record in circle, 1.25 ERA, 299 Ks, 162.2 IP; Taylei Williams, Sr., Juab, .556 batting average, 29 runs, 33 RBIs, 17-1 record in circle, 1.16 ERA, 201 Ks, 115 IP; Reannon Justice, Sr., Grantsville, .500 batting average, 17 runs, 44 RBIs; Madison Bostick, Sr., Union, 15-6 record in circle, 1.60 ERA, 185 Ks, 131 IP; Lindsey Allie, Jr., Stansbury, .538 batting average, 33 runs, 12 RBIs, 12 SBs.

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Class 2A state tournament

Starting date • Thursday

Title game date • Saturday

Title game location • Spanish Fork Softball Complex

Defending champion • Manti

Five players to watch • Hannah Peterson, Sr., South Summit, .654 batting average, 33 runs, 36 RBIs, 18 SBs, 11-2 record in circle, 1.73 ERA, 117 Ks, 76.2 IP; Emily Brackett, Jr., Gunnison Valley, .638 batting average, 33 runs, 34 RBIs, 18 SBs; Allie Cordero, So., Summit Academy, .528 batting average, 45 runs, 24 RBIs, 11 SBs; Lacy Drake, Sr., Enterprise, .553 batting average, 45 runs, 43 RBIs, 21 doubles; Sydnee Gillins, So., Beaver, .608 batting average, 48 runs, 25 RBIs, 10 doubles.

— Statistics courtesy MaxPreps.com