The weight is off their shoulders. With last week's 12-2 shellacking of Woods Cross High School, the Stansbury softball team achieved its season-long goal of clinching a spot in the 4A state playoffs.

"It was our main goal, and it feels awesome. No matter what, we'll get to the playoffs," said third baseman Karlee Manzione.

"We've been working really hard to accomplish that goal," said Stansbury coach Bridget Clinton. "Last year, we were in one of the toughest regions in the entire state. We played well last year and just missed it by one spot."

Stansbury won 14 games last season and came close to edging out fourth-place Bountiful for the final playoff spot in region, but the team came up short. The disappointment of missing out on the playoffs last season gave this year's squad all the motivation it required.

Behind the pitching of Aleesha Herrera (13-7) and a potent offense that includes two of the state's top hitters in Katelyn Robinson and Manzione, the Stallions became a 20-win team and contended throughout the season for the Region 6 title.

But for this year's Stansbury team, the difference-maker might be Robinson, who came into the final week of the season leading the state in triples.

"She's a gifted athlete," Clinton said. "She puts the ball in play, and she's extremely fast." Make that the fastest player on the squad, and she can easily stretch a double into a triple.

Said Manzione, who bats behind Robinson in the cleanup spot: "I love Katelyn. She's such an amazing hitter. She just hits it hard no matter what. She knows she's going to hit it and nobody is going to stop her."

In the Stallions' non-region contest against Hunter last week, Robinson came to the plate with the bases loaded and promptly lined an RBI single up the middle, triggering a five-run outburst as the Stallions rolled to a 13-3 victory. It was business as usual for Robinson, who collected two hits and scored three runs in the win.

The right fielder is also a quality pitcher and versatile enough to fill in as the team's catcher. But first and foremost, she's a hitter.

"Visualizing is like ninety percent of the game," Robinson said. "You've got be mentally tough and visualize yourself hitting line drives. Don't picture yourself hitting it over the fence — just picture yourself getting a base hit."

It's not just one hitter on this team that makes Stansbury a dark horse in the state tournament. Manzione is closing in on the state record in doubles, and Abbie McIntyre has nine extra base hits this season.

"I think when all of us are hitting, we're unstoppable," Manzione said. "I think teams are scared of our whole lineup, not just any three of us."

With the playoffs right around the corner (May 17), Stansbury seems to be peaking at just the right time.

"They're feeling real good," Clinton said. "Our pitching is really good, the defense is good. Coming into the playoffs, we're swinging some hot bats, and you've got to be swinging hot bats." —

Ready for fight for the title

The 4A state softball tournament gets under way Tuesday, May 17, and Stansbury will be a contender because of its great hitting and improved pitching.

Coming into the final week of the regular season, Stansbury's Katelyn Robinson leads the state in triples with nine. Karlee Manzione is among the 4A leaders in doubles.

Stansbury is a team on the rise, as it returns a number of talented juniors and sophomores for next season.