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GILMAN – The Spencer softball team made history Tuesday, clinching a share of its first conference softball championship with an 11-0 whitewashing of Gilman behind a no-hitter from pitcher Nicole Bruss.
Bruss walked the first batter of the game and one Gilman batter reached on an error accounting for the only two baserunners allowed by the Rockets’ hurler.
Bruss struck out seven and walked one to earn the win and give the Rockets (15-3, 13-3) a share of the Cloverbelt Conference East Division championship with Greenwood.
The conference title is the fourth in Spencer history for any girls sport and first since 1995, according to coach Jason Gorst.
“It was a great way to finish the conference season,” Gorst said. “Nicki Bruss really bounced back to pitch the best game of her life. I am very happy that all the hard work the girls put in paid off in the end. I am very proud of them. They deserve this.”
Paige Johnson went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and three runs scored to lead the Rockets’ offense. Kailyn Anderson, Erika Taylor and Bruss each added two hits and Taylor and Jenna Hagen each had a pair of RBIs for Spencer.
Spencer received a first-round bye in the upcoming WIAA Division 4 playoffs and will host the winner of Thursday’s Wausau Newman Catholic-Loyal game in a regional semifinal May 31 at SPREC Field at Spencer High School.
Rockets 11, Pirates 0
Spencer 006 104 – 11 11 1
Gilman 000 000 – 0 0 4WP: Nicole Bruss. LP: M. Jazdzewski.
SO: Bruss 7. BB: Bruss 1.
Top hitters: S, Paige Johnson 3×3, 2B, HR, RBI, 3 runs; Erika Taylor 2×4, 2 RBis; Bruss 2×4, RBI; Kailyn Anderson 2×3, run, RBI; Krystal Weier 1×3, 2B, 2 runs; Jenna Hagen 1×4, run, 2 RBIs.
Records: Spencer 15-3, 13-3 Cloverbelt East; Gilman 12-10, 10-6 Cloverbelt East.