TWIR9: Shortened week, but no shortage of big games before the holiday

COMMENTARY — With the schools taking Friday off for the Easter holiday, Region 9 teams are squeezing in their games this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

But just because it is a shortened week doesn’t mean there aren’t any important games. In fact, quite the contrary. There are some hugely important contests between region contenders in baseball, soccer and softball. Here’s a look at some of them.

BASEBALL

Dixie and Desert Hills have both had their region byes, so it’s straight region play, two games a week, from here on out. And it starts tonight at DHS as the only two undefeated teams in region square off at Don Lay Flyers Field at 7 p.m.

Desert Hills shortstop Braiden Irvin makes a sliding stop in shallow left field, Cedar vs. Desert Hills, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 24, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills shortstop Braiden Irvin makes a sliding stop in shallow left field, Cedar vs. Desert Hills, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 24, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

Because they are both just two games in, it’s hard to read too much into their early records. Dixie is 11-2 overall and averages more than 10 runs a game. The Flyers have scored eight or more runs in all but two of their games this season. Desert Hills is 9-4 and is coming off an impressive two-game sweep of Cedar. The two teams also meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at Thunder Field.

It’s likely a six-team battle for four playoff spots, so every game is crucial. Pine View and Canyon View are both 2-2 in region going into their two-game set this week. Today it’s at Falcons Field (4 p.m.) and the two will battle Wednesday night at PVHS at 7 p.m.

Cedar is in an early hole after splitting with CV and losing two to D-Hills, so the Redmen desperately need at least a split with 11-1 Snow Canyon. The games are Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Cedar High and Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Snow Canyon High.

This week’s baseball schedule:

Tuesday
Pine View at Canyon View, 4 p.m.
Snow Canyon at Cedar, 4 p.m.
Desert Hills at Dixie, 7 p.m.
Kanab at Hurricane, 4 p.m.

Wednesday
Canyon View at Pine View, 7 p.m.
Cedar at Snow Canyon, 7 p.m.

Thursday
Dixie at Desert Hills, 7 p.m.

SOCCER

Defensively, first-place Dixie looks like it is as good as the team that won the state title last season. The Flyers have allowed just three goals in five region games. Dixie plays Desert Hills tonight, but the real test will come Thursday at Walt Brooks Stadium as the Flyers host high-scoring Snow Canyon. The Warriors have 45 goals in 10 games this season and are just one point behind Dixie in the standings.

Pine View, also a point back, has two road games this week — today at Canyon View (4 p.m.) and Wednesday at Cedar (also at 4 p.m.).

This week’s boys soccer schedule:

Tuesday
Pine View at Canyon View, 4 p.m.
Snow Canyon at Cedar, 4 p.m.
Desert Hills at Dixie, 7 p.m.

Wednesday
Pine View at Cedar, 4 p.m.
Desert Hills at Hurricane, 7 p.m.

Thursday
Snow Canyon at Dixie, 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL

It’s shaping up to be quite a race in softball, with Snow Canyon, Pine View and Cedar all at 3-1 in region and Canyon View a half-game back at 2-1. Today’s games could create some separation as teams from that top four group play teams from the bottom three — or it could give D-Hills, Hurricane or Cedar a chance to throw their hat in the playoff race ring.

Wednesday’s big contest is Canyon View at Snow Canyon. Both teams were contenders and went to the 3A playoffs a year ago and it should be a great battle at Warriors Field at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

This week’s softball schedule:

Tuesday
Desert Hills at Canyon View, 4 p.m.
Hurricane at Cedar, 4 p.m.
Pine View at Dixie, 4 p.m.

Wednesday
Canyon View at Snow Canyon, 4 p.m.
Cedar at Desert Hills, 4 p.m.
Hurricane at Dixie, 4 p.m.

Thursday
Emery at Hurricane, 4 p.m.

“This Week in Region 9″ is a weekly column written by Andy Griffin exploring the happenings in Region 9 at all sports venues. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of St. George News.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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