BOUNTIFUL -- Viewmont (10-2, 16-4 overall) kicked off its run for the 2006 5-A softball crown with a bang, rolling past West Jordan 10-1 on Tuesday afternoon. The win ad-vances the Vikes to a second-round match-up against Jordan (8-2, 15-8 overall), which defeated Lone Peak 1-0 in the first round. The battle be-tween the Beetdiggers and fourth-ranked Vikings plays out today and should be one of many exciting games in the 5-A bracket. Guessing which team will walk away with the 5-A title might be more difficult than filling out a March Madness bracket with eight teams sporting legitimate title chances.
"If we play like this throughout the state tournament, we're going to do well," said Viewmont coach Tiffany Randall. "It seems like a lot of the one and two seeds from each region are equal. It's going to be fun to play more good teams and if we play like we did today, we'll be just fine."
Viewmont produced a potent plate attack that included a hit from every Viking batter but one, along with a stellar pitching performance by senior Amanda Sarle to get the win Tuesday.
Senior Rachel Evans led the Vikes at the plate, knocking three hits and missing the cycle by the home run, which she's more accustomed to than the triple.
"I was just feeling it today," said Evans. "This team keeps each other going; one person hits and then the next one does and we get each other pumped up and going. I think this team is great at supporting each other and I'm really excited about our chances this year."
Evans was one of many Viewmont hitters to reach base in the first as they pounded out five runs to take an early and commanding lead.
"I have wanted us to show we can come out from the beginning of the game," noted Randall. "Getting those runs gave us confidence and seemed to knock them (West Jordan) down early."
The Jaguars scored their lone run in the top of the third, but couldn't match Viewmont as the Vikings tacked on another five runs to round out the scoring. They went up 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back doubles by the Tyteca sisters, Shasta and Shelbi. In the fifth, the Vikings scored three more after Evans ripped a two-run triple to left and then scored on a ground out by Shasta Tyteca.
With runs behind her, Sarle tossed a complete game in which she gave up just three hits, while fanning eight. The lone run was unearned as Viewmont did file three errors to West Jordan's three, but Sarle was never really threatened by the Jaguar batters.
"Rachel has always been a good hitter, but today she was exceptional," Randall said. "Amanda was outstanding as well. She hit and pitched a strong game for us."
The Vikes finished with 12 hits in the game with half being extra-base shots. Evans finished with the triple and double, while both Tytecas knocked doubles.
Shayna Willey added a triple and Jessica Beckstrand a double.
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