The Emery Lady Spartans responded to a first round loss with a 17-2 victory over the Providence Hall Patriots Saturday afternoon in the opening rounds of the 3A State Championship Tournament in Grantsville.
Entering as the No. 4 seed from Region 15, the Lady Spartans gave up ten runs in the third inning, leading to an eventual loss at the hands of the Juab Wasps in the opening round. The third frame proved to be the difference as the two teams played even in the other six innings of action.
Bailey Huggard was hit with the loss on the mound, allowing eight earned runs, three walks, while striking out one batter. Madisyn Childs and Kaylee Price combined for three innings of relief work, allowing a combined five earned runs.
Taleigh Price bolstered the Lady Spartans’ offensive numbers with three hits in four trips to the batter’s box, bringing in two runs. AdriAnne Childs also recorded two RBIs, knocking two singles in three at bats.
The loss to Juab sent Emery into the one-loss bracket, placing the Lady Spartans in a win-or-go-home situation. The response to the loss was positive as it took just three-innings for the team to earn a 17-2 win over Providence Hall.
Braileigh Clark pitched a gem, allowing just three hits and one earned run in the complete game effort. Adding to the dominance on the mound, Clark recorded seven strikeouts, accounting for all but two outs for the game.
Jumping out to a 4-1 lead by the end of the first inning, Emery blew the game open with 11 unanswered runs in the second. Up 15-2 entering the bottom of the third Emery added two more runs to end the game by mercy rule.
Childs helped push the offense as she finished 2-3 with three RBIs, one home run and a single. Ambree Bennett, Cambrie Jensen, Raegan Rasmussen and Autumn Stilson all notched two RBIs.
Faced with elimination the remainder of the 3A State Championship Tournament, Emery will next meet either Grand or South Sevier Thursday afternoon in Spanish Fork at 4:00 p.m.. A win would place them in another contest immediately after.
Click HERE for a complete view of the 3A State Championship Bracket.