The Emery Lady Spartans softball team finished the regular season with a 15-12 overall mark, and compiled a 4-4 Region 12 record in the 2023 season.
Emery said goodbye to five seniors due to graduation, but look forward to next season already when the underclassmen can step up.
Below is a recap of the Spartans 2023 season.
March 14- Manti- Win- 14-10
Lady Spartan softball got back to business starting the 2023 season on the road in Manti. Tied at eight going into the sixth, the Spartans used six runs in the next two innings to take the 14-10 win.
Last season Emery ended with a 16-9 overall record, including a 5-3 region mark, earning them the No. 5 seed in the 3A State Championships. The Lady Spartans won their opening round meeting with Ogden, but fell into the lower bracket with a loss to South Summit. The season came to an end at the hand of the Union Cougars, 4-1.
The Manti Templars, last years 3A Champions, jumped out in the bottom of the first taking a 2-0 lead. The Spartans came out in the top of the second getting on the board as Alivia Christman would send a bunt back to the pitcher scoring Emjae Adair. Holding the Templars scoreless in the bottom of the second, Emery would take the lead in the top of the third as Madi Bunnell collected a double on a line drive to left, bringing home Aspen Taylor and Jalynn Fox. Manti went on to score four in the bottom of the inning taking back the lead 6-3.
With a 6-5 score in the top of the fifth the Lady Spartans would rally to get some insurance runs moving the score to 8-6, but the Templars would come back in the bottom of the inning the inning to tie the game up at eight.
The last two innings were where Emery turned up both the offense and the defense starting in the sixth. With the bases loaded in the inning Manti would walk Christman bringing home Alexis Ungerman. Madi Thomas singled in the next at bat, driving in Fox and Bunnell, putting Emery up 11-8. The Spartans held the Templars without a run in the bottom of the inning.
Going into the seventh, Emery would rack up another trio of runs when a Bunnell single added two more runs as Shannon Johnson and Fox would score. On the next play, Tailynn Minchey would ground out, giving Bunnell the opportunity to score from third making it 14-8. In the bottom of the inning Manti could only manage a pair of runs, and Emery would come away with the 14-10 victory.
Bunnell led the charge for the Lady Spartans going 3-4 from the plate with four RBI’s and a pair of runs scored. Johnson had a good day at the plate as well with a 3-5 performance, a pair of RBI’s and a run, and Christman was 2-3 with two RBI’s in the big Emery win.
Taylor earned a complete game win surrendering 13 hits and five earned runs while striking out seven.
The Lady Spartans will be on the road Thursday when they travel to face South Sevier.
They will then head to St. George for tournament play this weekend.
March 16- South Sevier- Win- 7-1
The Lady Spartans were on the road to face the South Sevier Rams on Thursday. This was the first of many games in the three day period as Emery would travel to St. George for the rest of the weekend to play in a tournament. Emery was steady in the contest scoring in the first four innings while they held South Sevier off the board in the same span, taking the 7-1 win.
The Spartans earned the 14-11 win over Manti in their first game on Tuesday and will look to get a few more games under their belts this weekend in St. George where they will be guaranteed at least three games on Friday alone.
Brooklynn Ekker would get things going when she sent the fifth pitch she saw in the lead-off at bat over the left field wall putting up the Spartans 1-0. In the top of the second the first batter up was Madi Bunnell she wasn’t as patient as Ekker and sent her second pitch over the center field wall making the score 2-0.
Coming up to the plate again with the score 3-0 in the fourth, Ekker sent a fly ball to left that brought home Madi Thomas and Katelyn Nielson putting Emery up 5-0.
The Spartans would surrender one run to the Hawks in the bottom of the fifth, but came out swinging in the top of the seventh, when a Jalynn Fox ground out to the short stop brought Morgan Luke home, and in the next at bat Alexis Ungerman would score on a passed ball giving the Spartans the 7-1 lead and the win.
Ekker went 2-4 with three RBI’s, Alivia Christman also was 2-4 from the plate. Four Lady Spartans: Aspen Taylor, Fox, Bunnell and Emjae Adair also chipped in wIth one RBI each.
Taylor earned the complete game victory allowing four hits, one earned run and eight strikeouts.
Emery will be in St. George all weekend for Tournament play.
They will be on the road next week with games at Grand and Gunnison and will return home on March 28 to kick-off Region 12 play against Richfield.
St. George Tournament
March 17- Eastmark- Loss- 6-2
March 17- Mountain Ridge- Loss- 13-4
March 17- Bountiful- Loss-10-3
March 18- East- Win 17-1
March 18- Blackfoot Loss- 10-1
Over the weekend, The Lady Spartans were on the road in St. George to face teams from around the state and region. Playing five games in two days, Emery compiled a 1-4 record, the Lady Spartans struggled at the plate only winning one game, a thrashing against East High, 17-1.
Up first was a game with Eastmark out of Mesa, Arizona. The Firebirds held Emery scoreless until the top of the sixth when Aspen Taylor grounded out to short, allowing Tailynn Minchey, and Brooklyn Ekker to score the only runs in the game as the Spartans fell 6-2.
Ekker went 2-3 with one run and Taylor collected a pair of RBI’s.
Taylor also took the loss giving up eight hits, five earned runs, and struck out eight.
Up next on Friday, was a meeting with Mountain Ridge from Herriman. Once again the Emery bats were quiet until late in the bottom of the fifth with Mountain Ridge already up 10-0, the Lady Spartans put up one run off a Taylor double to score Ekker. Emery had one more chance to rally in the bottom of the seventh with the score 13-2, Alivia Christman would send one over the center field fence on her third pitch to bring home Ekker, but that was as close as they would get falling 13-4.
Ekker was 4-4 with a pair of runs, Christman went 2-3 with a run and two RBI’s and Shannon Johnson was 2-3 with a run and an RBI.
Taylor went 4.2, giving up seven hits, and Ekker got in some work going 2.1 surrendering three hits and four earned runs.
For the final contest on Friday, the Spartans would face the Bountiful Redhawks. The Spartans fell behind early as Bountiful jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead, and even though Emery would collect 10 hits they had a difficult time getting anyone across home plate, falling 10-3.
Ekker would go 2-3 with a run scored, and Taylor was 1-3 with an RBI. Emjae Adair had a 1-2 day at the plate and collected an RBI and Johnson went 2-3. Taylor took the loss on the mound giving up 14 hits, seven earned runs, and struck out one.
A good night’s sleep must have done wonders for Emery as they came out firing on all cylinders on Saturday morning when they faced the East High Leopards. This one was over as soon as it began with the Spartans putting up six runs in the first inning and then picking up another 11 in the second to take the 17-1 win.
Ekker went 3-3 scoring a pair of runs, Kalle Lake was 2-2 with a pair of runs and RBI’s and Alexis Ungerman was 1-1, with two runs and two RBI’s. Taylor and Lake split time on the mound with each going one inning. Taylor gave up a hit and one earned run while striking out two and Lake came in and retired the side giving up no hits and no runs, and struck out three.
In the final game of the weekend, Emery took on a team from Blackfoot, Idaho. Emery bats went cold in this one as well, as Blackfoot jumped out to a commanding 10-0 lead headed into the bottom of the seventh inning when the Lady Spartans came up to bat for their last chance to get back in the game. The only score for Emery came on a Madi Thomas fly ball that was dropped by the center fielder, allowing Ungerman to score the only run in the game for the Spartans.
Christman had a 4-4 performance with Ungerman scoring one run. Tayor took the loss going seven innings giving up 14 hits and five earned runs, striking out two.
The Lady Spartans will be back on the field Tuesday when they travel to Moab to face Grand County.
They will be back home in Castle Dale next Tuesday, March 28, when they welcome the Richfield Wildcats.
March 21- Grand- Win- 15-4
The Lady Spartans have been looking to jump into Region 12 play, especially after last weekend’s trip to St.George. The Spartans used a huge third inning Tuesday afternoon to put the Grand Red Devils away in five innings 15-4 in Moab.
Emery had a rough weekend in St. George, playing five games in two days going 1-4 in those meetings.
On Tuesday in Moab, the Lady Spartans got down to business early, already up 4-0 in the top of the third, Emery went on a scoring barrage, starting quite innocently when Morgan Luke would score on a passed ball, making the score 5-0. The next two at bats, were two more scoring opportunities with Jalynn Fox sending a single to the shortstop, that would allow Shannon Johnson to score, and after that Emjae Adair would score on a passed ball to put the score at 7-0. With the score now 10-0 Adair would come up once more in the inning sending a grounder to the third basemen, that brought home Brooklynn Ekker and Aspen Taylor. The inning would end with the Spartans up 14-0. Emery added one more run to close out the game and take the 15-4 win.
Ekker and Fox both went 2-2 with a pair of RBI’s and two runs scored. Adair went 2-3 with a pair of RBI’s and three runs, and Madi Bunnell was 1-2 with two RBI’s.
On the mound for the Spartans, it was Taylor who got the start, going four innings, giving up a pair of hits, and striking out four. Ekker came in to close it out going one, giving up three hits and two earned runs while striking out two.
Emery will be back on the field on Thursday when they travel to face Gunnison Valley.
March 23- Gunnison- Win- 18-7
The Lady Spartans were back on the road again on Thursday in Gunnison to face the Bulldogs. Emery trailed briefly in the game but used huge third and fourth innings to close it out in five innings getting the 18-7 win.
Emery is coming off another five inning road win on Tuesday in Moab when they shutdown Grand 15-4, for their first region win this season.
On Thursday, the Lady Spartans jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and gave up three in the bottom of the inning. Gunnison would shut out Emery in the top of the second and the Bulldogs would put another three runs on the board, taking a 5-4 lead.
The top of the third was when the Lady Spartans would take charge when Madi Bunnell came up to the plate with Emjae Adiar, Jalynn Fox and Madi Thomas on base, and with her first swing, sent it over the center field wall, reclaiming the lead 8-5, and never looking back.
In the top of the fourth, with the score 10-5, Brooklynn Ekker singled to left driving in Thomas and Bunnell. Then with the score 13-5 Adair doubled to right bringing Ekker and Morgan Luke home, putting the Spartans up 15- 5.
After scoring one run in the bottom of the fourth and with the score 15-6, Emery moved into the fifth and collected a few more, Aspen Taylor doubled to left driving home Katelyn Nielson and Alexis Ungerman to put the score at 17-6 and then they added one more run to make the score 18-6. The Lady Spartans would surrender just one more run closing out Gunnison on the bottom of the fifth, 18-7.
Bunnell had a big day with the grand slam, going 1-2 with a pair of runs and four RBI’s. Adair was 2-3 with a pair of runs and three RBI’s, Shannon Johnson was 2-4 with a run and three RBI’s and Ekker registered a pair of hits, three runs and a pair of RBI’s.
Taylor got the win on the mound, giving up five hits, five earned runs and struck out five.
Emery will be back on the field on Tuesday when they continue region play against Richfield.
March 28- Richfield – Win- 8-5
The Lady Spartans softball team moved their record to 6-4 on Tuesday when they took care of the Richfield Wildcats in Castle Dale, 8-5. Using a four run fourth inning, Emery held off the Wildcats to earn it’s second Region 12 win.
Emery got it’s first region win last week on the road in Moab taking a 15-4 win. Getting the win against Richfield was big, especially since the next two games on the schedule are a home and away with Canyon View, another region member, Wednesday and Friday.
Richfield jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and increased their lead to 4-0 heading into the bottom of the third when Katelyn Nielson would successfully steal home to put the Spartans on the board. Aspen Taylor would come up next sending a double to left field bringing in Alivia Christman cutting the Richfield lead in half at 4-2.
It was the bottom of the fourth when the Spartans would take charge, as a Madi Thomas single brought home Jalynn Fox and Emjae Adair tying the score at 4-4. Nielson was the next batter up and sent a triple to right scoring Thomas. Nielson would score on an error by the third baseman to put the Lady Spartans up by two, 6-4.
Emery would come up in the bottom of the sixth adding a pair of runs off a Nielson homer that also brought in Thomas. Emery did give up one more run in the top of the seventh but a Taylor strikeout of the final batter sealed the victory, 8-5.
Nielson had a day for Emery going 3-3 with three runs, and three RBI’s. Thomas was also 3-3 with a pair of runs and two RBI’s, and Christman was 2-4 with one run scored.
Taylor earned the complete game win giving up 12 hits with five earned runs and 10 strikeouts.
Emery is back on the field in Castle Dale Wednesday to face the Canyon View Falcons. The contest is set to start at 3:30. They will follow that up with another against Canyon View on Friday in Cedar City.
March 29- Canyon View- Loss- 9-7
The Lady Spartans lost their first game in the last four on Wednesday in Castle Dale, when they faced the Canyon View Falcons in Region 12 action. Canyon View scored eight runs in the first three innings doubling up Emery who couldn’t find offense in the later innings, losing 9-7.
Emery is coming off a home win on Tuesday against the Richfield Wildcats 8-5 and hadn’t lost a game since March 18 against Blackfoot, Idaho.
The Falcons jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but in the bottom of the inning, Maddi Thomas got hit by a pitch which brought Alivia Christman home, in the next at bat Emjae Adiar sent a single to right scoring Aspen Taylor and Shannon Johnson, knotting the score at 3-3. And in the next at bat Jalynn Fox sent a ground ball to center driving in Thomas, putting the Lady Spartans up 4-3.
The Faclons came out again in the top of the second putting up another four runs, and then a single run in the top of the third to go up 8-4.
The Spartans came up in the bottom of the fourth, Taylor would pop out to left, and after tagging up Brooklyn Ekker scored to add a run, then again in the bottom of the fifth, Katelyn Nielson singled to center driving in Adair.
In the sixth down 8-6, Adair sent a single to the second baseman scoring Taylor, but that was as close as the Lady Spartans would get, and Canyon View would put up on more run and then would go on to hold Emery scoreless in the seventh and take the 9-7 win.
Ekker went 4-5 in the contest with one run scored, Adair was 4-4 with three RBI’s and a run scored and Fox 2-3 with an RBI in the loss.
Taylor took the loss giving up 16 hits along with seven earned runs and struck out three.
Emery will travel to Cedar City to face the same Canyon View on Friday.
March 31- Canyon View- Loss 11-1
Coming off a 9-7 loss just two days prior, the Lady Spartans locked up with the Canyon View Falcons on Friday this time in Cedar City. The Falcons jumped out Early taking a 7-0 lead in the first two innings and ending Emery’s day in the fifth 11-1.
Emjae Adair was 3-3 from the plate with one RBI. Katelyn Nielson went 1-2 with a run scored.
Aspen Taylor took the loss on the mound giving up nine earned runs on 13 hits while striking out one.
April 11- Grand- Win- 8-2
The Emery Lady Spartans jumped back into the win column with an 8-1 victory over the Grand Red Devils Tuesday afternoon at home in a Region 12 tilt.
Posting five runs in the opening inning, the Lady Spartans never trailed in the seven-inning contest. The win pushes Emery over the .500 barrier in division play, now sitting at 3-2.
Aspen Taylor pitched a complete game gem for Emery, allowing no earned runs and just three hits. Taylor kept the Red Devils off balance throughout by fanning nine of the 27 batters faced.
As a team Emery gathered nine total hits, registering six RBIs. Jalyn Fox was dynamic at the plate as she posted a perfect 3-3 performance, hitting a triple and bringing in two runs. Taylor helped her own cause as she too finished with two RBIs, ending 2-4 at the plate. Madi Bunnell finished 2-2 with a double and two RBIs.
Tuesday’s win comes at an important time for Emery. Battling for position in the highly competitive Region 12 division, two games against the Carbon Dinos are on the horizon. Emery will also face the Richfield Wildcats in the coming days.
Thursday’s league matchup with carbon will take place at Emery High School. Start time for the game is set for 3:30 p.m.
April 13- Carbon- Loss- 9-0
Carbon High School senior Haven Byerly threw a no-hitter as the Carbon Dinos defeated the Emery Spartans 9-0 Thursday afternoon in Castle Dale.
Byerly threw all seven innings, finishing with 13 strikeouts and allowing just one base runner on a walk. Byerly retired the first 13 Emery batters before allowing a walk off a full count in the fifth inning. The dominating pitching performance was capped by three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the 7th.
Locked in a scoreless tie heading into the second inning, the Dinos took advantage of three Emery errors to plate six runs. It was all the offense Carbon needed to secure the big region win.
Adri Abeyta got the Carbon offense rolling as she delivered a two-RBI single in the second. She finished the afternoon 2-4 at the plate with a team-high three RBIs.
Makayla Scovill, Gabby Vasquez, and Kylan Sorenson all finished with one RBI a piece. As a team the Lady Dinos gathered 11 hits.
Thursday’s win is the fourth of the season for Byerly, who lowered her ERA to 1.24 with the no-hitter. So far this season she has fanned 63 batters, allowed just six runs and 18 hits in 33.2 innings.
The victory marked the second in as many days for Carbon. The team easily defeated the Richfield Wildcats at home on Wednesday by a final of 13-2. Now 6-4 overall on the season, the Lady Dinos hold a perfect 3-0 mark in Region 12 play.
Aspen Taylor pitched a complete game for Emery, giving up 11 hits and five earned runs over seven innings.
The Lady Spartans had just one base runner throughout the contest. Jalynn Fox broke up Carbon’s perfect game with a walk.
Now 7-7 overall and 3-3 in Region 12 play the Lady Spartans have just two league games remaining on the schedule. Wednesday they will travel to meet Carbon and then wrap up division play Thursday on the road against Richfield.
Payson Tournament
April 15- Gunnison- Win- 8-3
April 15- Payson- Win- 5-4
April 15- Enterprise- Loss- 10-2
April 15- Timpview- Win- 9-3
The Lady Spartans traveled to Payson to play four games on Saturday and at the end of it all they walked away with three wins and one loss. Emery earned wins over Gunnison Valley, host team Payson and Timpview, the only loss on the day came at the hands of Enterprise.
The Spartans got the day started when they faced the Gunnison Valley Bulldogs, taking the 8-3 win.
Emery kept things even on the offensive side scoring in every inning but the first, and a great game on the mound by Aspen Taylor who gave up just four hits and struck out seven propelled the Spartans to the win.
Shannon Johnson went 2-2 from the plate driving in two and scoring one run. Alivia Christman was 2-3 in the game with an RBI and a run scored.
Game two on the day was against host Payson. This one was closer than the Gunnison game with Emery using a three run fifth inning to put the Lions away for good, 5-4.
Brooklynn Ekker went 2-3 with an RBI, Johnson had another terrific game going 2-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a home run and Katelyn Nielsen would add a home run of her own going 1-2 with three RBI’s and a run scored.
Taylor earned the complete game win, surrendering five hits with two earned runs and struck out one.
In the game with Enterprise, the Spartans came out putting up two runs in the top of the first, but that would do it as they fell 10-2. Enterprise used a five run fifth to put the game out of reach for the Spartans. Emjae Adair went 2-2 and Christman was 1-3 with a pair of RBI’s in the loss.
Taylor got the start on the mound going 2.2 innings giving up six hits, two earned and struck out three. Kallee Lake finished up surrendering three hits, a pair of earned runs and a pair of strikeouts.
In the last game on Saturday, the Spartans claimed a 9-3 win over the Timpview Thunderbirds.
The Lady Spartans used big third and fourth innings to take a commanding lead over Timpview. Home runs off the bats of Ekker, Nielson and Taylor helped Emery solidify the win.
Taylor was 2-2 with three RBI’s and two runs scored. Ekker went 2-3 with a pair of RBI’s and a run scored and Adair finished the day 2-3 with a pair of runs and one RBI.
Taylor and Ekker split work on the mound with Taylor putting in four innings of work giving up three hits and a pair of strikeouts and Ekker went one getting a strikeout.
The Spartans will be back on the field on Wednesday in Price to face the Lady Dinos. This is the last regular season meeting between the two teams.
Game time is set for 3:30 at the Carbon County Fairgrounds.
April 19- Carbon- Loss- 8-1
The Lady Spartans hadn’t been on the field since April 15 and the Lady Dinos had had a pretty busy week with games on Monday against North Sanpete and Lehi on Tuesday. Carbon and Emery would get down to business Wednesday in Price with the Dinos coming out on top 8-1 sweeping the season series.
This was the second and final regular-season meeting between the rivals, with the Dinos raking the first meeting 9-0 in Castle Dale.
In the first contest between these two teams Carbon used a big six run second inning to put the game out of reach, the second time around it was more slow and steady. Carbon put up a pair of runs in the second inning, a Taylor Secor ground out would bring in Brielle Sandoval and two batters later Adri Abeyta scored on a passed ball.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the score 5-0, three more singles from Carbon bats pushed the score to 8-0. Emery would earn their only run in the seventh when Madi Bunnell scored on a wild pitch.
For the Jalynn Fox went 2-3, Bunnell was 1-3 with a run scored. Emjae Adair and Brooklynn Ekker went 1-4 for the Spartans.
On the bump for Emery Aspen Taylor took the loss going six with 11 hits, four earned runs and struck out two.
For the Dinos Jenna Richards went 3-4 with a run and an RBI. Gabby Vasquez was 2-4 with a run and RBI and Haven Byerly went 2-3 scoring one a driving one in.
On the mound, Byerly earned the win, giving up five runs with one earned and struck out four.
Up next for Emery a date with Richfield.
April 20- Richfield- Win- 13-3
The Lady Spartans were in Richfield to face the Wildcats and had an offensive explosion, taking a 13-3 win in a Region 12 tilt.
Back in late March, the Wildcats traveled to Castle Dale and the Lady Spartans handed them an 8-5 loss.
Emery would put up a pair of runs in the first inning, only to see the Wildcats come back and add two of their own in the bottom. In the second inning, Richfield had no answers for the Lady Spartan bats.
With the score 3-2, Emjae Adair sent a double to right field bringing home Jalynn Fox. In the next at-bat, Aspen Taylor sent a single shot to the shortstop, driving in Adair. Morgan Luke would enter the game as a courtesy runner for Taylor, Brooklynn Ekker hit a triple to right and Luke scored from second. Alivia Christman hit a single that would bring Ekker home. Madi Bunnell came into the game hitting a double that would send Alexis Ungerman home with two outs. Katelyn Nielson sent a grounder to first reaching on an error and driving Madi Thomas in, putting the score at 9-2.
Richfield added one more run in the fourth, but the Spartans would go quiet until the final two innings putting up another four runs and earning the 13-3 region win.
Bunnell had a huge game, going 4-4 with a pair of RBI’s and a run scored. Taylor had a 4-5 day at the plate and Christman was 3-3 with three RBI’s and a run.
Taylor earned the complete game win giving up six hits with a pair of earned runs and struck out eight.
April 25- Duchesne- Loss- 5-2
The Lady Spartans were on the road Wednesday to face the Duchesne Eagles in a non-region tilt. Emery struggled with offense only coming up with a pair of runs in the contest falling 5-2.
Emery now sits at 10-10 with a 4-4 record and holds the No. 9 spot in the RPI, and have just one game left on the schedule, a road trip to Mount Pleasant to face the North Sanpete Hawks.
In the game with Duchesne, Emery had trouble at the plate with Eagles ace, Kelsey Grant, who gave up just two hits and struck out 11.
Brooklynn Ekker earned an RBI in the contest and Aspen Taylor took the loss striking out four.
After the final regular season game with North Sanpete on Thursday, the Lady Spartans will await the final RPI rankings from the Utah High School Activities Association on May 3.
With it’s release, Emery will know when and where they will be playing when the playoffs get started on May 6, at pod sites, after that the action will move to the Spanish Fork Softball Complex starting May 11. The weekend will wrap up on May 13, when the 3A State Champion will be crowned.
April 27- North Sanpete- Win- 12-5
The Emery Lady Spartan softball squad was on the road on Thursday to face the North Sanpete Hawks in a non-region contest. Trailing by three headed to the sixth inning, Emery found another gear, putting up nine runs taking the lead and never looking back in the 12- 5 win.
With no RPI right now, Emery will face the waiting game until Wednesday, when the final numbers are released.
North Sanpete jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead heading into the top of the fifth, where they found just enough offense to cut the lead to 4-1. Apparently, the Lady Spartans were holding it all in for the top of the sixth.
With the score 4-2, Rheagan Rhoten came to the plate with two on and sent a single to center driving in Brooklynn Ekker and Shannon Johnson pushing the score to 4-4, and Emery was just getting started. After a pair of walks, Katelyn Nielson stepped up to the plate and with another single drove in Alexia Ungerman. Emery kept pushing the subject and by the end of the inning had compiled nine runs on just three singles pushing the Spartan lead to 10-4.
Emery added two more runs in the seventh to take the 12-5 win.
Nielson went 2-4 with three RBI’s and a pair of runs. Johnson was 1-3 with two RBI’s and a run and Johnson was 1-3, two RBI’s and a run.
Aspen Taylor was on the bump for the Lady Spartans getting the complete game giving up six hits two earned and a pair of strikeouts.
That closes out the regular season for Emery and they will now wait until Wednesday, May 3 for the final RPI results and the bracket to be released for the 3A State Softball Championships that will begin on May 6.
May 2- Providence Hall- Win- 10-0
Lady Spartan softball ended the regular season on Tuesday when they faced Providence Hall in Castle Dale , taking a 10-0 win. With the end of the season the Utah High School Activities Association released their final RPI ranking which included the bracket for the 3A State Softball Championships.
Emery finished their season 12-10 overall and 4-4 in region play and landed the No. 8 spot. They will travel to Grantsville this weekend to face South Summit.
The game with Providence Hall, was never in question with the Spartans putting up a pair of runs in the first inning, after that things got pretty quiet for Emery, with Aspen Taylor on the mound the defense was solid. The fourth inning was where the Lady Spartans would make their move.
Emery had pushed the score to 4-0 with a pair of outs and Madi Bunnell and Katelyn Nielson on base, Jalynn Fox sent a double to center and brought both runners home. In the next at bat, Fox would get to third on a passed ball and then score on a steal of home, and Emjae Adair stepped up and sent a solo shot to left field putting the score at 8-0. Later in the bottom of the sixth with two on, Adair hit a single scoring two and ending the game, as Emery walked away with the 10-0 win.
Adair had a day at the plate going 3-4 with the home run, three RBI’s and scored two runs. Nielson was 2-3 with two runs and an RBI and Fox was 1-4 with three runs scored and two RBI’s.
Taylor earned the win giving up four hits and striking out six.
Landing in the No.8 spot, the Lady Spartans will travel to Grantsville, the No.1 overall seed, to face South Summit. With a win, Emery will move to the next round on Thursday, May 11 at the Spanish Fork Softball Complex, to face the winner of Grantsville and the play-in game between Ben Lomond and Delta.
If Emery were to lose they would play later Saturday afternoon.
State Playoffs
May 6- South Summit- Loss- 8-5
May 6- Ben Lomond- Win- 15-0
Emery softball found themselves on the road in Grantsville for the opening round of the 3A State Softball Championships. Dropping the first game to South Summit 8-5, Emery fell into the one-loss bracket and has to work their way back, starting in the contest with Ben Lomond, keeping their state title hopes alive getting the 15-0 win.
The Lady Spartans closed out the regular season 13-11 with a 4-4 region mark and earned the No. 8 seed.
Taking on the South Summit Wildcats (13-11, 5-3, No.9) in their first game of the playoff, the Wildcats jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first. The Spartans would get to the pitching of South Summit, collecting 14 hits, but could never catch-up with the Wildcats.
Emery came up in the bottom of the fourth, putting up a pair, but then turned around and gave up three more runs to the Wildcats in the top of the fifth. The Lady Spartans came back to cut the South Summit lead to 7-5, but that was as close as they would get, taking the 8-5 loss.
Shannon Johnson was 3-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Four other Lady Spartans Rheagan Rhoten, Emjae Adair, Aspen Taylor and Madi Bunnell all went 2-4 at the plate.
On the mound, Taylor got the start going 4.2 with eight hits, five earned run and three strikeouts. Rhoten came in going 2.1 with a hit, one earned and striking out one.
Emery had to move on quickly because, immediately following the loss, they had to turn around and face No. 16 Ben Lomond. Emery was ready for this one ending, it in four with, a 10 run fourth inning closing the book on the Scots, 15-0.
The game was pretty quiet until the Lady Spartans up by five, went off, putting up 10 runs and none were bigger than in the fourth when Jalynn Fox came up with Madi Thomas and Katelyn Nielson on base sending a triple to right field and brought them both across pushing the score to 14-0, a Tailynn Minchey single drove in Fox to close out the game 15-0 in the fourth inning.
Taylor once again had a great day at the plate and on the mound , getting the complete game win giving up just two hits and striking out five. At the plate she went 2-3 with three RBI’s and a run score.
Four other Lady Spartans:Fox, Rhoten and Bunnell each registered a pair of RBI’s.
Now Emery will await the loser of the Canyon View/Morgan game. The Lady Spartans will be back on the field at 2:30 on Thursday at the Spanish Fork Softball Complex.
May 11- Morgan- Win- 11-7
May 11-Providence Hall- Loss- 6-3
Lady Spartan softball entered Thursday at the 3A State Softball Championships knowing what it would take to make it to the championship round, don’t lose. In the one-loss bracket already the first team they faced Morgan, proved to be a tough opponent but Emery fought through and earned an 11-7 win. In the second game, they faced Providence Hall, the No. 5 team in 3A, and it was also close, but the Spartans were handed their second loss 6-3, ending their season.
In the opening game of the day for the Spartans they faced the Morgan Trojans (11-11, 5-3, No. 7). Emery jumped out to a quick lead in the first, already up 2-0, Madi Bunnell came to the plate, Madison Luke would score on a steal of home, and Bunnell would hit a double to center bringing in Brooklynn Ekker to push the score to 4-0.
The Spartans added two more runs in the second, and in the fourth Shannon Johnson sent a single to right to put Emery up 9-0.
Emery added two more runs in the fifth and shutdown a Trojan rally in the seventh ending the game when Rheagan Rhoten would get Morgan’s Callie Averett swinging to collect the final out and secure the win, 11-7.
Ekker was 2-3 from the plate, collecting three RBI’s and a pair of runs scored. Katelyn Nielson was 2-4 with a pair of runs and Emjae Adair went 2-5 with a pair of runs and RBI’s.
On the mound, Aspen Taylor got the start going six innings surrendering three earned runs on eight hits and striking out three. Rhoten came in to close out the game giving up four hits and striking out one.
The Lady Spartans had a little time off after the win, not taking the field against Providence Hall (20-7, 8-0, No. 5) until 7 p.m..
This game was a little tighter with Providence Hall holding a 3-0 lead through four. In the top of the fifth, Emery would get on the board with the score already 3-1, Ekker sent a grounder to center driving in Adair making the score 3-2.
The Lady Spartans were able to tack on one more run in the top of the sixth to cut the score to 4-2 but that was as close as they could get, and Providence Hall put up two more in the bottom half of the inning to take the 6-3 win.
Ekker went 3-4 at the plate with an RBI, and Adair, Bunnell, and Madi Thomas each had a run scored.
Taylor was on the mound giving up six earned on nine hits with four strikeouts.
The Lady Spartans ended their season 14-12 overall with a 4-4 region mark and held the No. 8 spot in the final RPI.