LONE TREE

The Lions put the tying runs in scoring position during the seventh inning of Monday’s postseason contest, but were unable to extend their season in a 12-10 loss to Springville. 

Lone Tree trailed by three runs in the first inning and fell behind by four in the fifth, but came back each time to take a one-run lead. 

“The heart, the fight from this team after being down early — I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Lone Tree head coach Jovonte Squiers. “To be in a 12-10 game like that after being down basically the whole game… runners on second and third with one out — we were right there.”

Lone Tree had just three hits through four innings before scoring five times on five hits to take a 10-9 lead into the sixth. 

“I told them we couldn’t get it all back in one inning, just chip away,” Squiers said, “but you know, we ended up getting it all back in one inning.”

Rylee Shield drove in two runs with a hit to center field  and scored the go-ahead run on a RBI bunt from Lone Tree senior Hogan Eden. Eden finished with two hits, two steals, and two RBIs in her final game. 

“We just all want to work together,” Eden said about her team’s spirit. “That’s what helps to bring us back up. We all want to get back up and win.”

After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Alex Dautremont gave Lone Tree a 5-4 lead with her two-run double in the second. She finished with three RBIs. 

Shield was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a walk, three steals, and three runs scored. Vivian Zaruba walked four times, stole two bases and scored twice. Kayleigh Rundlett had a hit, walked twice, and drove in a run as well. 

“All the way around our lineup was finding ways to get on base,” Squiers said. “Everybody was productive. I pulled some (players) off the bench and they came in and found a way to get on base. Everybody was working tonight.”

For Springville, Hannah March’s second home run of the season was a big one. The senior outfielder delivered a 3-run shot in the sixth inning to put the Orioles on top for good.

Springville (10-22) advances to face HLV (16-6) on Wednesday in a Region 7 quarterfinal. Lone Tree finishes the season with a record of 12-14. 

“I told them, the growth from the beginning of the year to now was unbelievable,” Squiers said.

Lone Tree will lose two seniors: Eden and Lila Bell. 

Eden, who drove in a team-high 22 runs this season, says she didn’t even consider skipping her final season after graduating in May. 

“I’ve played with these girls since I was little,” she said, “so it wasn’t even a question. I had to.”

Bell was also a productive hitter with 17 hits and 14 RBIs. 

“We are going to miss them a lot. It’s going to be hard to fill those shoes,” Squiers said. “I know there are only two, but those are some big shoes.”

With the rest of the lineup returning, Squiers is optimistic about the future. “You know, the ceiling is infinite,” he said. “So we’ll see what we can do over this offseason.”