Stratford softball shuts out Spencer in WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal

Stratford's Emma Roeper. (MarshfieldAreaSports.com file photo/Paul Lecker)

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MarshfieldAreaSports.com

STRATFORD – The Stratford softball team has dreams of a back-to-back trip to the state tournament and is hitting its peak here at the end of the season.

The Tigers pounded out nine hits and Laney Pankratz threw a five-inning no-hitter as Stratford shut out Spencer 11-0 in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Wednesday afternoon at Hilgemann Field.

No. 2 seed Stratford (19-6) will host No. 3 Edgar (10-11) in a D-4 regional final Thursday at 5 p.m. at Hilgemann Field. Spencer finishes its season with a 7-16 mark.

Laney Pankratz struck out eight and walked one to finish off the Rockets.

Stratford scored multiple runs in the first three innings to take control.

Emma Roeper had two hits and four RBI and Gracie Schmidt drove in three for the Tigers, who have won 10 games in a row since losing their Marawood South series to Edgar on April 30 and May 3.

Tigers 11, Rockets 0
Spencer 000 00 – 0 0 2
Stratford 254 0x – 11 9 0
WP:
Laney Pankratz. LP: Berklie Ireland.
SO: Ireland (3 inn.) 0, Hannah Schreiner (1 inn.) 1; L. Pankratz 8. BB: Ireland 7, Schreiner 2; L. Pankratz 1.
Top hitters: ST, Carly Pankratz 1×2, 2 runs; L. Pankratz 1×3, RBI; Emma Roeper 2×4, 4 RBI; Tria Tubbs 2 runs; Gracie Schmidt 1×2, 3 RBI; Kressa Wenzel 1×2, 2 RBI; Emerson Roy 1×2, 2 runs.
Records: Spencer 7-16; Stratford 19-6.