With two heartbreaking losses last week, the Emery High Lady Spartan softball season came to an abrupt end. Emery needed one win to force a play-in game this week but was unable to get the win despite playing pretty good ball.
Emery started off the week with a home game against Salem Hills but lost 9-1 in extra innings. Emery then traveled to Delta and lost 4-0 to end their playoff aspirations.
When the season started for the Spartans, Emery knew that they were young and inexperienced and that they were playing in a very tough region. With only two returning seniors, Emery started those two seniors along with four juniors, two sophomores and a freshman. Emery played most region opponents tough but seemed to always have that one inning when things fell apart. While the end result is sad for this season, it does bode well for next season with all the experience coming back.
Against Salem Hills, Emery held the Skyhawks to a lone run in the game with that run coming in the fifth inning until the eighth inning disaster happened. Emery had an opportunity to score a run in the second inning when Danavin Reed led off the inning with a single and made her way to third base with the help of a bunt by Michelle Oliver but two straight ground balls to shortstop ended the threat.
Gabby Guymon had a double in the sixth inning and got to third base on a well hit ball by Makiah Sherman to right field. The ball bounced once to the fielder and she threw a bullet to first base to get Makiah at the base. The following batter got out to end another threat.
In the seventh inning, Danavin led off with a base on balls with Michelle then singling to the right side and Emery had two runners on and no outs and were down 1-0. After a strike out, Abbie Kay singled up the middle to load the bases. After the next batter popped up to the first baseman, Adriane Weihing followed with a single to left field that scored Reed. Oliver rounded third and also tried to score but a good throw to the plate nailed her and she was the third out of the inning, ending another threat.
In the eighth inning, two of the first three batters struck out and the third walked when disaster struck. Five straight Emery errors led to eight runs and Emery had lost another game that they could have and maybe should have won.
At Delta, Emery held the Rabbits scoreless until the fifth inning Delta scored three runs on a single, two errors and a hit batter. Delta scored one more run in the sixth inning. Emery threatened in the fifth inning when the two seniors, Keera Allred and Weihing each singled but Emery was unable to score a run.
Emery threatened in the sixth inning also as Sherman, Markette Tanner and Oliver each singled but again the Spartans were unable to score a run.
Emery closes out their season this week with a trip to Uintah to play a non-region game. Game time is 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Lady Spartans end season with two losses
"Michelle Oliver makes the catch at second for an out."