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Cedar City • Making quick work of the opposition usually gives a team the best chance to make a deep run in the Class 3A softball playoffs.
The Tooele Buffaloes used the ultimate power source to help them move on.
Senior pitcher Kameron Grover hit one of her team's five home runs, and Tooele used two big innings to race past the mismatched Logan Grizzlies in a 13-0 rout in five innings top open the state playoffs Saturday afternoon at Cedar City High. After the Buffaloes left the bases loaded and failed to score in the first, leadoff hitter Peyton Hammond and cleanup hitter Jenna Gowans belted three-run homers in a six-run second inning that sent Tooele (12-10) on its way to the easy victory.
"We came out swinging, and that's always fun to see as a coach," Tooele coach Melissa Lowry said. "We ran with the opportunities that were given to us. In the state tournament, you have to do that. Every team is a good team."
Aided by four Logan errors, the Buffaloes put away the win early with seven more runs in the fourth. Grover led off with a home run, Blake Hervat added a two-run shot and Amber Lujan capped the power surge with a three-run homer of her own.
And proving they could go small to score runs as well, Mercy Deryke's push-bunt double drove in the other run in the rally.
"We have positive attitudes and we all want to be here," Grover said. "We all pick each other up."
The No. 2 seed from Region 10 will face Cedar City in the second round at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Spanish Fork Softball Complex. Cedar City stretched its winning streak to 13 by beating Carbon 7-1 in the opening game of the pod.
Junior pitcher Bryton Holyoak allowed the Dinos only three hits, and leadoff hitter Allie Meisner doubled twice and drove in a run. Carbon got its only run on a leadoff homer from Kinley Nelson in the top of the fourth.
The Dinos stayed alive in the consolation bracket, eliminating Logan with a 10-1 victory later Saturday.