Lady Spartans grab two region victories

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After having just lost a pair of region softball games that they felt they could have and maybe should have won, the Emery High Lady Spartans rebounded last week with two big wins. On Wednesday, Emery traveled to North Sanpete and defeated the Hawks 6-4 to give North Sanpete their first region loss of the year.
On Friday, Emery hosted Delta and defeated the Rabbits 7-0 to even their region record at 2-2.
The win over North Sanpete was huge. North Sanpete finished third in the 3-A state tournament last season and they returned eight of their nine starters from last season on this year’s squad. North Sanpete is a favorite to go far this season.
Emery scored first in the game. In the third inning, Makia Sherman singled, Markette Tanner walked and Gabby Guymon followed with a double knocking in Emery’s first run. McKenzie Grange followed with a single scoring Tanner and Emery led 2-0. The Hawks answered with one run in the bottom of the inning but Emery still led 2-1.
Emery scored twice more in the fourth inning. Danavin Reed walked, Sherman walked, Tanner singled and Guymon singled sending Reed and Sherman home. Emery now led 4-1. North Sanpete narrowed the gap in the fifth inning to 4-3 after a single and a homerun.
In the top of the sixth inning, Emery scored twice more to extend their lead to 6-3. Reed walked again followed by a bunt by Abbie Kay with both runners safe. Tanner and Grange then singled and Emery had increased their lead to three. In the bottom of the inning, North Sanpete hit another homerun off Emery pitcher Andi Smith but Emery still led 6-4 going into the last inning.
Emery’s Whitney Roper singled in the top of the seventh inning and eventually made it to third base but Emery could not score her. In the bottom of the inning, Emery got the first batter to fly out to shallow left field as shortstop Kay made a good play in getting to the ball. North Sanpete’s lead off batter, after having been on base three straight times, bunted a ball in the air that Emery’s third baseman Bryton Hess made a great effort on and made a diving catch for out number two. Smith then struck out the final Hawk batter to end the game and secure the win for the Spartans.
Emery returned home to face Delta and secured their second region win. Emery scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Sherman started the game with a single, ran to second base on a single by Tanner and then scored on a single by Guymon to right field. Emery left two runners on base in the inning.
Emery added four more runs in the fourth inning. After a ground out to start the inning, Sherman doubled to right field and Tanner made it on base due to an error by the Rabbit catcher. Guymon doubled to left field to score two more runs and Grange then singled to get on base. Roper’s hit to right field was bobbled allowing Guymon to score and Grange followed with the last score as Reed doubled to left field.
Emery added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Grange and Michelle Oliver each singled and would eventually score as Roper singled and Reed and Hess each walked.
Emery had 15 base hits in the Delta game with three of those being doubles. Sherman, Guymon and Reed each had a double. Grange had three base hits, scored two runs and had an RBI. Sherman, Guymon, Oliver and Reed each had two base hits in the game. Guymon had three RBI’s. Emery pitcher Andi Smith pitched a one-hitter and struck out 11 batters.
In the North Sanpete game, Emery picked up nine base hits. Tanner, Guymon and Grange each had two hits in the game. Guymon and Tanner each had two RBI’s. Guymon’s double was the only extra base hit for Emery.
Emery hosts Richfield on Tuesday and then travels to Manti Friday afternoon. Varsity game time is 3:30 p.m. each day.