This story is sponsored by Dental Clinic of Marshfield
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – The Spencer softball team has been an offensive juggernaut this season, racking up at least 11 runs in each of its 18 wins entering Thursday’s WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal.
Alma Center Lincoln held the Rockets down to seven runs, but it was more than enough as Spencer pitcher Heidi Guenther allowed just four hits and the defense played spotless behind her in a 7-2 victory at SPREC Field.
The Rockets (19-5) move on to play Athens (16-6) in a regional semifinal next Tuesday at Athens.
Spencer had 10 hits, two by Paige Johnson and one each by the other eight Rockets in the lineup.
“It was good balance,” Spencer coach Jason Gorst said. “Everyone stepped up when they needed to and we got enough runs to win the game.”
Lincoln (6-9) got on the board first when Rachel Davis ripped a home run in the top of the first, but the Rockets, like they have done all season, got their offense rolling early.
Dani Johnson walked, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch to quickly tie the score at 1-1. Krystal Weier reached on an error and Paige Johnson followed with a two-run home run to left to make it 3-1.
The Rockets added two more runs in the second, another in the third on an RBI single by Sam Nikolay and plated its final run in the sixth on a double steal.
“We like to hit the ball, we’ve always been that way,” Spencer shortstop Paige Johnson said. “We probably hit a lull during the middle part of our season, but we’ve been able to come back and I think we’re just starting to peak. It’s good timing for us here in the playoffs. I like how we’re looking.”
Lincoln’s Laura Olson led off the fourth with a home run for the Hornets’ other run.
Guenther worked out of trouble in the fourth when she loaded the bases with three walks, then retired the final seven batters she faced. She ended up with five strikeouts and four walks, and Spencer did not commit and error in the win.
“Everyone contributed, everyone did their part, everyone did what they needed to do to win this game,” Johnson said.
Spencer has won its last seven games since a 15-12 loss to Neillsville on May 10, scoring 113 runs in those wins.
“We shook some things up a little bit in our defensive alignment and in our practice and approach to things,” Gorst said. “I think it’s working. We’ve refocused after that loss and I think everybody has elevated their level of play since then.”
Rockets 7, Hornets 2
Alma Center Lincoln 100 100 0 – 2 4 5
Spencer 321 001 x – 6 10 0
WP: Heidi Guenther. LP: Rachael Roever.
SO: Roever 3; Guenther 5. BB: Roever 3; Guenther 4.
Top hitters: ACL, Rachel Davis 1×3, HR, RBI; Laura Olson 1×2, HR, RBI. S, Dani Johnson 1×3, 2 SBs, 2 runs; Krystal Weier 1×4, run, RBI; Paige Johnson 2×3, 2B, HR, run, 2 RBIs; Brooke Kettleborough 1×3, 2B; Sam Nikolay 1×2, run, RBI.
Records: Lincoln 6-9; Spencer 19-5.