| Amber Gardner behind the plate for the Lady Spartans |
The Emery High Lady Spartans finished the softball season in eighth place after going to Ogden and splitting two games last week. After defeating Wasatch High 16-7 on Thursday evening, the Spartans lost 4-3 to Grantsville, the eventual state runner-up. Emery scored almost at will in this game against the Wasps. They scored twice in the first inning, another in the second two more in the fourth and sixth innings and added nine runs in the fifth inning. Freshmen Eve Guymon’s hot bat continued as she hit two triples and picked up a pair of RBI’s. Cortni Jensen also had a pair of RBI’s and Amber Gardner had a double in the Emery victory.
Emery’s 16 hits were aided by a tournament high 10 Wasatch errors as Emery created their own luck and then took advantage of Wasatch’s misfortune.
On Friday, the Spartans were able to pick up only five hits but still managed to score three runs in the sixth inning to make the game exciting. All of Grantsville’s runs came in the fourth inning.
According to Coach Tom Hansen, the Spartans would have won this game with just a little better execution. Several bunt attempts were popped up and led to double plays instead of advanced runners. Even then Emery had one last opportunity. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Erin Anselmo singled, Alexis Swasey subbed for her and promptly stole second base. MacKell Huntington then had a hard hit for a game winning homerun that ended up slicing foul by about two feet. It was estimated that the ball would have cleared Emery’s home run fence by about 50 feet and therefore fair. These fields had no fence, therefore nothing but a foul ball and Emery ends up losing.
Emery will miss MacKell Huntington, Michelle Johansen, Stacie Giles and Amber Gardner; their four starting seniors next year but this team should remain good. This finish exceeded all expectations as the Spartans were only forecast a fourth place finish in region. Way to go Spartans.
Lady Spartans are: Amber Gardner, MacKell Huntington, Stacie Giles, Cortni Jensen, Erin Anselmo, Krista Ungerman, Whitni Erickson, Jerica Jensen, Mandi Weihing, Misha Addley, Adrian McNee, Natalee Hansen, Brandee Behling, Eve Guymon, Alexis Swasey, Carly Anderson, Laura Cook, Mckenzie Fox, Tealee Sherman and Tahna Merrell. Coaches Tom Hansen, Nancy Martinez and Duane Merrell.