Cedar Valley softball routs Alta to advance in the playoffs for the first time
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- A Cedar Valley baserunner slides safely into third during the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley senior Catharina Underwood throws a pitch during the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley freshman Eva Okusi reaches for the ball during the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- The Cedar Valley softball team poses for a photo after the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley senior Catharina Underwood hits the ball during the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley junior Ellie Leatham scores a run during the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley head coach Sam Vidal talks to his team after the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- The Cedar Valley second baseball throws the ball to first during the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- A Cedar Valley outfield catches a fly ball during the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
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- A Cedar Valley outfielder throws the ball in during the 5A first round game against Alta in Eagle Mountain on Monday, May 13, 2024.
Region 7 softball was a gauntlet in 2024, featuring the top two 5A teams in the ratings percentage index (RPI) as well as three of the top six and four of the top 11.
Cedar Valley joined the league for the first time this season and went through some growing pains, including stumbling to seven straight losses to finish the regular season.
While that wasn’t ideal, there was a silver lining.
When the 5A state playoffs began this weekend, the Aviators were ready.
“We’ve learned from it,” Cedar Valley head coach Sam Vidal said. “We’ve been in some tough games against some of the top teams. It’s tough but we’ve stayed positive. These girls have done a great job knowing that our time will come. We are hoping that we can keep it rolling and surprise some teams.”
Aviator senior pitcher Catharina Underwood said she felt like the rocky moments in the season taught the squad to focus on what they are capable of doing.
“I feel like we know how we can play,” Underwood said. “When we’re in a slump, I think we just need to think about the good games and not the bad games.”
Cedar Valley showed No. 20-seed Alta just how impressive it can be on the diamond, steamrolling past the Hawks in two straight lopsided home games in Eagle Mountain.
The Aviators defeated Alta 11-0 in five innings in Game 1 on Saturday, then used an 18-run second inning to beat the Hawks 20-2 in three innings to win the series on Monday.
“I feel like we just had to play our game and not really underestimate the other team,” Underwood said. “We just wanted to focus on ourselves and stay on the gas pedal.”
After suffering through all those tough losses, Vidal said it was fantastic to see his team show what it can do.
“I believe that we’re one of the Top 5 teams in 5A and this is a great start,” Vidal said. “This was really nice to see.”
In the first game, Underwood was in almost complete control in the circle, striking out 14 of the 15 Alta batters she faced. The only one she didn’t strikeout she got out when she threw them out at first.
“It was kind of a surreal feeling,” Underwood said. “It’s like, there’s no way I just did that. It can add some pressure, especially when I’m off and I know what I can do. But it was awesome.”
Monday’s game was about the Aviator offense as they were almost completely unstoppable in the second inning. That took the drama out of the series as Cedar Valley coasted to victory.
And it was a significant one, since it was the first time the Aviators had ever made it to the second round in a state softball tournament.
“I’ve been here all four years, so I feel like it’s meaningful to me because we’ve never done it and we just did,” Underwood said. “It’s pretty cool.”
Now Cedar Valley will look to apply its experience and build on the momentum as it heads on the road for the 5A super-regional.
Vidal said the key will be for the Aviators to continue to believe in themselves.
“We started out the season great but then started getting in our own heads a little bit,” Vidal said. “We have to believe in what we can do. We have a great pitcher. We need to play behind her and get our bats going. We’ve stressed that all year long.”
Underwood said this is a great group to be a part of and she is looking forward to traveling with them on this next road trip.
“I love these girls,” she said. “This has been one of the funnest years. Going to Box Elder is going to be so fun.”
Cedar Valley will play at No. 4-seed Box Elder, a team that has a tremendous tradition of softball success. But Vidal thinks his team will be ready.
“We’re going to make it a game,” Vidal said. “We haven’t played them, so we don’t know what they’ve got and they don’t know what we’ve got. The season records are in the past. Right now everyone is 0-0. It’s win or go home, so hopefully we have some great games.”
The Aviators will take on the Bees in Game 1 of the 5A super-regionals on Thursday at 4 p.m. with Game 2 starting at 1 p.m. on Friday. All games will be played in Brigham City.
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