This story is sponsored by: The University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – Kenya Kaldunski hit a home run with one out in the seventh inning to tie it for Marathon, which went on to plate a run with a bases-loaded walk in the ninth and defeat Spencer 2-1 in a WIAA Division 3 softball regional final Friday at Spencer High School.
Spencer pitcher Macie Weber was two outs away from completing a shutout before Kaldunski went deep to tie the game at 1-1.
In the ninth, Julia Anderson led off the inning with a single and Amanda Kind followed with a double. After Weber got the next two Raiders out, she walked Paige Kurtz and Sasha Hornung to force in what proved to be the winning run for Marathon (15-5).
Weber walked and Cinnamin Harwood singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Marathon pitcher Cameron Sonnentag was able to get Lexi Baehr to ground to third and Anderson caught the ball and stepped on third for a force out to end the game.
Marathon will take on Marawood Conference South Division rival Stratford (18-6) in a D-3 sectional semifinal Tuesday at Neillsville. Marathon defeated Stratford twice during the conference season. The winner moves on to a sectional final on June 2 at Stevens Point Pacelli with the winner of that game qualifying for the 2016 WIAA State Softball Tournament in Madison on June 9-11.
“That is one of the all-time great games I have been a part of,” Spencer coach Jason Gorst said. “Hats of to Marathon. They are a quality program. I am very proud of our girls’ effort tonight. It was a great season that they should be proud of for years to come.”
Weber and Sonnentag matched zeros until Spencer (17-6) finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth.
Weber doubled, went to third on a wild pitch, and after Sonnentag got two outs, Jenna Schober singled to score Weber and give Spencer a 1-0 lead.
Spencer had two runners on in the first and second innings, and Baehr singled and ended up on third with two outs in the fourth, but Sonnentag was able to wiggle out of the jams each time. Sonnentag finished with six strikeouts and four walks.
Weber struck out five Marathon batters in a row during the second and third innings and Marathon only had one runner advance past first base in the first six innings. She finished with 13 strikeouts and five walks, two coming in the ninth.
Raiders 2, Rockets 1 (9 inn.)
Marathon 000 000 101 – 2 4 1
Spencer 000 001 000 – 1 7 1
WP: Cameron Sonnentag. LP: Macie Weber.
SO: Sonnentag 6; Weber 13. BB: Sonnetag 4; Weber 5.
Top hitters: M, Amanda Kind 2×4; Kenya Kaldunski HR, RBI. S, Weber 2B, run; Jenna Schober RBI.
Records: Marathon 15-5; Spencer 17-6.