Prep softball: Middle infield leads Ogden to high-scoring win over rival Ben Lomond
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- Ogden High’s Sophia Edwards, left, jumps to catch the ball as Ben Lomond’s Breannah Lamere-Alvarado, center, tries to beat the throw to first base on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Dust puffs from the glove of Ben Lomond’s Elliot Hauser (3) as she secures a flyout against Ogden on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Jill Wood, left, smiles as she approaches home to complete her home run trot against Ben Lomond on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond’s Elliot Hauser, left, applies a tag to a sliding Lauretta Taylor of Ogden High during a game Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Baelee Ulm swings at a pitch against Ben Lomond on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond’s Aleia Huff runs the bases during a softball game against Ogden on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Mia Sugimoto runs the bases in a softball game against Ben Lomond on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond’s McKynlee Cavalli hits an Ogden pitch during a softball game Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Jill Wood winds to throw a pitch against Ben Lomond on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden High teammates celebrate with Jill Wood, top center, after her home run against Ben Lomond on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ogden.
OGDEN — In softball slang, second base is often referred to as the “keystone” due to its position on the infield at the top of the diamond, similar to the keystone block in architecture.
On Wednesday, Ogden freshman second baseman Sophia Edwards put her designs on a 22-4, run-rule victory over Ben Lomond, as she was instrumental in the Region 13 blowout.
Edwards had three hits, drove in five runs and scored twice for the Tigers. Her RBIs came in three separate at-bats where she was consistently clutch with runners on base in her first year of high school ball.
“During open gyms I kind of introduced myself, put myself out there — play well and continue to prove myself more and more in region and practice,” Edwards said. “Everytime I get up to bat, I tell myself I need to find a way on there to keep it going. Mostly talking positive, not getting down and overthinking things; just bring in runs … contact.”
Edwards had a single in a seven-run first inning, a two-run single in a six-run third and two more RBIs in a seven-run fourth frame.
Junior starting pitcher Jill Wood benefited from the early seven-run spurt to open the game and turned things over to her teammates.
“When I’m pitching, I try to let my outfield work behind me; I trust them,” Wood said. “I’m not trying to strike anybody out but if I can get a couple of strikeouts, all the better. I need to reduce my walks.”
Wood pitched a complete four-inning game, allowing seven hits while walking four with two Ks.
She twice got out of trouble by escaping innings where Ben Lomond loaded the bases, and the Scots stranded 10 runners overall.
“This is my first year pitching and sometimes things don’t go very well,” Wood said. “I try to avoid going down the middle, trying to hit the corners and hopefully they hit it to my corners so we can get the out.”
Shortstop Aracely DeLeon is Edwards’ opposite on the other side of second base of Ogden’s infield; she also contributed in a big way on Wednesday.
DeLeon scored four runs — one in every inning where the Tigers added runs — so she was an integral part of each rally.
“I just try to get on base for my team; hit the ball. My teammates are always picking me up,” DeLeon said.
Wood the pitcher also helped her cause as Wood the hitter, smashing her eighth home run of the year but her first since she crushed seven in the first week of the season.
“I’ve been in a slump since the start of region and lost some confidence for a second, so it’s nice to get it back,” Wood said. “I was just looking for one pitch and I know it when I see it.”
Ogden (5-11, 2-4 Region 13) run-ruled Ben Lomond 18-8 last month at home. This contest played out similarly, where the Scots were plagued with numerous wild pitches but saw improvement at the catching position where Ivy Gallegos has taken hold.
“Ivy has stepped into our starter role as the catcher and she is owning it. She has been doing a great job,” Ben Lomond coach Jamie Phippen said. “She has improved every single game since Ogden. I’m very proud of her.”
The Tigers rapped out 14 hits and Ben Lomond sophomore pitchers McKynlee Cavalli and Breannah Lamere-Alvarado issued 11 walks, which eats at Phippen.
“Our pitching is young; they’re new, they’re inexperienced,” Phippen said. “Ogden got some great hits; I’ll take that, but it’s the walks, the unearned runs we give up that are hard to swallow.”
Cavalli did not record an out in the rough first inning before being replaced by Lamere-Alvarado, but stayed in the game at first base and had two hits, two RBIs and scored a run for the Scots (0-8, 0-7).
Ogden first baseman Lauretta Taylor scored three runs and drove in one, while center fielder Kassidy Waddell also scored thrice and had two RBIs.
“We were locked in on defense and we hit really good this game too,” Edwards said. “The whole lineup. Everyone was doing their job, finding a way on there; kept it going.”
