Lady Spartans knock it out of the park against North Sevier

Josie Luke

Many in the crowd at the end of the Emery High Softball game were still questioning what they had seen moments after Markette Tanner’s hit cleared the fence in left-center, even Markette’s father was heard to say, “that went over?” as she followed (three) teammates to home plate after hitting a grand slam to end the game against North Sevier on March 18.

Excited Spartan players ran on the field to congratulate their teammate as she crossed home plate, making the score 13-1 for Emery and ending the game in the sixth inning, with the Spartan’s taking advantage of the 10-run rule.

The team jumped to a 3 point lead in the first inning, with Bailey Kay bringing Adriane Weihing in on a single to left and stealing home herself, and Miranda Miller, pinch running for Pitcher Leslee Lake, stealing home. After saving a run in the top of the second, getting an opposing runner out at home, they batted around, stretching their lead to 9-0 in the third, with Lake, Weihing and Jalee Jensen, each getting an RBI.

Then, in the top of the fourth, the team put on a defensive exhibition, backing up their pitcher, Lake, to rack up three outs in just four pitches. N. Sevier ended the shutout in the fifth, scoring one run on a hit down the right field line.

After fulfilling their cheer of “three up, three down” in the bottom of the sixth three Spartans reached base and were brought in by Tanner’s home run.

The game showed the team’s talent offensively and defensively, with Lake nearly throwing the shutout and every Spartan hitter reaching base in the game, whether on a hit or a walk.