| Leslee Lake pitches for Emery with Candace Norton on third base. |
Although the Emery High Lady Spartans took the early lead in their opening game of the 2008 softball season they could not maintain it against the veteran visiting squad from Uintah High. Uintah took the lead in the fifth inning and defeated Emery 15-11. This game was scheduled for Vernal on Wednesday but was transferred to Emery because of field conditions.
Emery opened the game by getting six of the first seven Ute batters out on three ground balls and three fly balls. At bat, Emery would score five runs in the first inning and add another in the second inning to grab a 6-0 lead.
In that first inning, Jalee Jensen opened the game by getting a walk and stealing second base. Keera Allred then flew out to right field. Chelsea Skinner doubled, Leslee Lake singled and then Emery took five walks off the Uintah pitching staff to score five runs. Emery ended the inning with a pop fly and the bases were still loaded.
In the second inning, Skinner singled again, stole second and scored on a ground out by Bailey Kay.
In the third inning, Uintah finally got their potent hitting attack going and scored six runs to tie the ball game at 6-6. Five singles, a triple and then another single gave the Utes their runs. Emery responded in the bottom half of the inning with 4 runs of their own to take the lead back at 10-4.
Whitney Allen singled, Adriane Weihing singled, Jalee Jensen singled, Keera Allred singled, Chelsea Skinner singled again and Leslee Lake singled and Emery had four runs. Skinner got thrown out at home on a Bailey Kay hit and Candace Norton grounded out to end the inning with two runners still on base.
Uintah would then score one run in the fourth inning on two base hits, five runs in the fifth inning on four hits and an Emery error and three runs in the seventh inning on two more hits. Emery would score only once more as the Emery bats went silent.
Emery added a run in the fifth inning as Skinner got on again and scored on a Lake single. Jensen and Allred singled to open the seventh inning but then two pop flys and a strike out ended the game.
Chelsea led Emery with three hits and three runs including Emery’s only extra base hit. Leslee also singled three times but only scored once. Jalee and Keera each got two base hits and Jalee also walked twice.
Emery finished the game with 11 runs on 12 base hits. Six different players got those base hits. Emery also received seven walks and struck out six times. Uintah scored 15 runs on 17 base hits but only received two walks and had two strikeouts.
Emery will now play in a St. George tournament this Friday and Saturday. They will play five games over the two days.