Lady Spartans sit at second in region at halfway mark

By GARY ARRINGTON Sports writer

In the only game played last week due to the spring break, the Emery High Lady Spartan softball team solidified their hold on second place in region 12 action with a 9-0 victory over Richfield. With the Emery win and the North Sanpete loss at Manti, Emery now trails the undefeated Templars with a 4-2 region record.
Senior centerfielder Shelby Mason led the Spartan offensive effort by going four for four at the plate. Mason had two singles, a double and a triple in her four at bats, scored two runs and also had two RBIs.
Emery’s other two senior players also had a decent day at the plate. Catcher Markette Tanner and left fielder Makiah Sherman each went two for four at the plate, each scored a run and Sherman also had two RBIs. Emery had a team total 13 base hits in this game with the seniors having eight of those.
Neither team scored in the first inning as both teams got one batter on base but could do nothing with her. Emery scored their first run in the second inning. After Whitney Roper grounded out, Jaiden Huntington walked, Mason doubled and Jeridi Price walked. Auminee Bennett then hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to score Huntington.
In the third inning, Emery added three more runs. Sherman singled to left field to open the inning followed by a Tanner single down the third base line. Bryton Hess, who has been on a tear lately with the bat, then got the Sparatan’s third straight base hit. After a pop fly to the shortstop, Huntington walked again to score the first run of the inning. Mason then singled to score Tanner and Price walked to score Hess and Emery led 4-0.
Emery then added three more runs in the fifth inning. After a pop fly out, Mason singled, Price struck out, Bennett doubled, Jo Jennings singled and Sherman then singled to score the final two runs of the inning.
Emery scored two final runs in the sixth inning. After Hess hit a line drive shot to centerfield that she some how ran down and caught, Roper singled, Mason tripled to score Roper and then Price singled to score Mason. Besides the hits, Emery also had five walks in the game with only two batters striking out.
Whitney Roper pitched the complete game for Emery and Roper only allowed four base hits to the Wildcats. Roper struck out nine batters and gave up no walks in the game.
Emery will host Manti this Tuesday afternoon and then will travel to Juab on Friday as region 12 action continues. The season is quickly coming to a close, after next week’s games there will only be two regular season games left before playoffs begin.