MarshfieldAreaSports.com
ATHENS – Spencer closed a four-run deficit to one in the fourth inning, but Athens followed with six runs over the next three innings to beat the Rockets 12-7 in a WIAA Division 4 softball regional final Thursday.
The Rockets finish their season with a 13-8 record. Athens (19-4) moves on to a sectional semifinal against Rosholt (24-1) at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Abbotsford.
Athens led 6-2 after three innings before Spencer rallied for three runs in the fourth to close the gap.
The Bluejays followed with two runs in the bottom of the inning and added three more in the fifth and one in the sixth to win going away.
Paige Johnson was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Monica Stange had two hits and four RBIs for the Rockets, who 11 hits in all.
Sam Steinke struck out six to earn the win for the Bluejays, and also had a home run and three RBIs at the plate.
Nicki Bruss struck out seven and walked seven in the loss for Spencer. She also had two hits.
Bluejays 12, Rockets 7
Spencer 101 302 0 – 7 11 3
Athens 321 231 x 12 9 4
WP: Sam Steinke. LP: Nicki Bruss.
SO: Bruss 7; Steinke 6. BB: Bruss 7; Steinke 4.
Top hitters: S, Bruss 2-for-4; Dani Johnson 2-for-2, 2 runs; Paige Johnson 3-for-4, 3 runs; Monica Stange 2-for-5, 4 RBIs; Krystal Weier 2-for-4, 2B. A, Taylor Literski 2-for-4, 2 runs; Tanya Literski 2-for-2, 4 runs; Heather Schreiner 2B, 4 RBIs; Steinke HR, 3 RBIs.
Records: Spencer 13-8; Athens 19-4.
