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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
ATHENS – Spencer fell behind 3-0 after one inning but pecked away and saw its offense explode again in the final three innings to knock off Athens 12-3 in a WIAA Division 4 softball regional semifinal on Tuesday.
Spencer (20-5) moves on to a Division 4 regional final Thursday at Wausau Newman Catholic (17-2).
Paige Johnson went 4-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI for the Rockets.
Brooke Kettleborough added three hits and four RBIs and Krystal Weier had three hits, a home run and four runs scored for Spencer.
Spencer tied the game 3-3 after three, then scored five runs in the fifth, twice in the sixth and two more times in the seventh to pull away.
“The girls settled down after a shaky start,” Spencer coach Jason Gorst said. “Some of our inexperience showed early with our nerves. Once we got in the flow of the game they really started to settle down and play well.
“”Brooke, Krystal and Paige really had some great hits in big moments and Heidi (Guenther) threw the ball very well and our defense made plays behind her.”
Guenther ended up shutting out Athens over the final sixth innings and finished with three strikeouts and three walks, while allowing just five hits.
Rockets 12, Bluejays 3
Spencer 021 052 2 – 12 12 2
Athens 300 000 0 – 3 5 1
WP: Heidi Guenther. LP: Casie Hieronimus.
SO: Guenther 3; Hieroniums 2. BB: Guenther 3; Hieronimus 6.
Top hitters: S, Paige Johnson 4×5, 2 2Bs, 3 runs, RBI; Brooke Kettleborough 3×4, 2B, run, 4 RBIs; Tynae Phillips 2B, 2 RBIs; Courtney Schulz 3 BBs, 2 runs; Krystal Weier 3×4, HR, 4 runs, RBI. A, Alyssa Diers 2×3; Maranda Kottke 2B.
Records: Spencer 20-5; Athens 16-7.