Taylorsville • It never hurts to have a little insurance. So although Roy's MaCauley Flint scored what was eventually the winning run in the sixth inning, it was Bryce Mitchell's two-run home run that sailed over the centerfield fence that gave the Royals that extra bit of padding.

"I had to take a second look, but when I was about halfway to second, that's when I knew," Mitchell said. "I had a feeling that would pretty much do it."

Roy ended up squeaking out the 4-1 win over Murray in the Class 5A softball winner's bracket final with the late runs and another strong pitching performance from Flint.

Friday, if the Royals can win one more game, they will be champions. But the team must shake off demons from a year ago, when Bingham came out of the one-loss bracket and knocked Roy off twice to get the title.

"We as coaches, as a team, as a community, want this so bad for these girls," coach Amanda Koford said. "They've gone through a lot of adversity this year, but the one thing that's consistent is that we've been a family." There were times against the Spartans where Roy's title hopes seemed in jeopardy. The Royals took a 1-0 lead on the first pitch of the first inning, when Jordynn Barrera hit a solo home run off starter Braylee Butcher. But Murray held them off for most of the game, as centerfielder Malia Campos snatched two more balls going over the fence, including one that sent her tumbling end-over-end.

Campos was arguably the player of the game for the Spartans, scoring the squad's only run in the fourth and generally being a menace on the bases. She nearly scored on a suicide squeeze in the sixth inning, but the bunt rolled foul. Roy squeaked out of the inning after a strikeout and a flyout.

Finally, the Royals broke the dam, as Flint scored after Campos committed an error on a Meagan Parker hit. Then came Mitchell's home run that not even Campos could catch.

Murray goes on to face Weber in the one-loss bracket final at 10 a.m. Friday, and the winner will play Roy in the title game

Weber 2, Taylorsville 1 • Weber shocked the Region 3 champs, as a late run pushed it into the one-loss bracket final. McKenna Bull recorded six strikeouts in her second win of the day.

Taylorsville 7, Bingham 2 • The Warriors knocked out the defending Miners with solid hitting and a great outing by pitcher Katie Greenberg. Erin Romero hit a three-run home run late that assured victory.

Weber 10, Riverton 0 • A shell-shocked Silverwolves team couldn't stop the Warriors' onslaught in the first inning. McKenna Bull pitched the complete game shutout, and Jaycee Liechty homered.

kgoon@sltrib.com —

Friday's schedule

P Semifinal • Weber vs. Murray, 10 a.m.

Final • Roy vs. Weber/Murray winner, 12:15 p.m.