This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Taylorsville • Spanish Fork got off to a fast start in the first inning then hung on to defeat Maple Mountain 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A softball state tournament Tuesday afternoon at the Valley Softball Complex.

Dons senior ace Cambrie Hazel and her Golden Eagles counterpart, Cayla Giles, both pitched well. Hazel gave up only two hits and Giles four.

Spanish Fork managed to plate two runs in the first inning then tacked on another in the fifth. By contrast, these squads combined for 48 runs in their first two playoff games.

"I had a lot of nerves actually," Hazel said. "They are a good-hitting team, but I did trust my defense."

There was a critical moment in the game when that defense saved the victory for Spanish Fork.

Maple Mountain loaded the bases with no outs and with senior first baseman Shandi Jacobson at the plate during the fourth inning.

She lined the ball in the direction of Dons third baseman Mallory Barber, who made a tough low catch, stepped on her base then threw out the runner at second with the help of Aislyn Sharp to complete a rare triple play.

"I felt confident that we'd get out of the jam, but I just wasn't sure it would be like that," Barber said.

"When somebody makes a play like that, it pumps us up and we have more energy," Hazel said.

The four state quarterfinalists all were from Region 8.

"It's been like that the last two years," Barber said. "It's nerve-wracking to play them for a third time in the same year, but it would have been nerve-wracking to play a team we'd never played before, too." —

Spanish Fork 3, Maple Mountain 0

R Spanish Fork jumps ahead with two runs in the first inning then makes it hold up in a pitchers' duel.

• Cambrie Hazel only allows two hits to earn the win in the circle.

• The Dons improve to 28-2 and will face another Region 8 opponent, No. 3-seed Springville (18-10), in the semifinals.

Class 4A state tournament

P at Valley Softball Complex

Wednesday's semifinal

3 p.m. • Spanish Fork vs. Springville