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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARKESAN – The Spencer softball team came as close as a team can get to pulling off a major upset in a WIAA Division 4 sectional final on Thursday.
Spencer was held to just two hits and three total baserunners in dropping a narrow 1-0 decision to undefeated Stevens Point Pacelli in the sectional final.
The only run of the game came across on an RBI single by Tessa Schafranski to score Karah Kluck in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Kluck struck out eight and did not walk a batter to earn the win for the Cardinals (25-0), who will be making their second-straight trip to the WIAA State Softball Tournament in Madison.
Pacelli will play Horicon in a Division 4 state semifinal at 8 a.m. Friday, June 8. The winner moves into the championship game against either Thorp or Weyauwega-Fremont on Saturday, June 9, at 10:30 a.m.
Sadie Mercier and Tiffany Meinders had singles for the Rockets, their lone hits in the game against Kluck. One other batter reached on an error.
Spencer, attempting to qualify for its first state softball tournament, ends its season with a 16-6 record after winning its fourth-straight Cloverbelt Conference East Division title and posting three postseason victories.
“The girls played their hearts out today,” Spencer coach Laschel Canfield said. “We just couldn’t come up with the key hits that were needed in this game, but keeping a very strong Pacelli team to only one run, that is something we can hang our hat on.
“The girls are so proud of themselves on everything they have accomplished this year and Coach Wilke and I are as well.”
Cardinals 1, Rockets 0
Spencer 000 000 0 – 0 2 2
Pacelli 000 001 x – 1 7 1
WP: Karah Kluck. LP: Tiffany Meinders.
SO: Meinders 2; Kluck 8. BB: Meinders 1; Kluck 0.
Top hitters: S, Sadie Mercier 1×3; Meinders 1×3. P, Sophie Schroeder 3×3; Tessa Schrafranski 2×3, RBI.
Records: Spencer 16-6; Pacelli 25-0.