UPDATED: SPASH softball knocks off #1 ranked Appleton East

UPDATED: SPASH softball knocks off #1 ranked Appleton East

CWS Sports Desk

May 19, 2012

Updated May 20, 11:10am

Stevens Point– In tournament action this weekend, SPASH softball went 2-1, beating Rice Lake and #1 ranked Appleton East.   In their final game on Saturday, SPASH fell to Wilmot.

SPASH 4-0 over Rice Lake:

Carly Lass and Katelyn Shuda led of the first with infield slaps and Taylor Smola drove both in with a two out single giving SPASH the lead.  In the 4th, Parris Kurszewski got on base by error and Abbie Rottier came in to courtesy run, Rottier stole second, advance to third on a Shelby Fields’ infield single, and scored on a fielder’s choice by Carly Lass.  In in the 5th, Nicki Hauser walked and Rottier pinch ran and stole 2nd advance to third on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI by Leah Soik.  Angela Lange took a perfect game into the 7th, but gave up a two out single to break up the perfect game.  She ended with a two-hitter, striking out four to beat the #3 ranked Division 2 Rice Lake Warriors 4-0.

SPASH 5-0 over Appleton East

East played the longest game in state– 27 innings and over 5 and half hours.  SPASH waited patiently to play the winner of Appleton East and Watertown.  It seemed like an eternity.  Both Rice lake and SPASH had to wait for the winners and the losers of the game.  Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, Wilmot beat Chippewa Falls and Kaukauna beat Lacrosse Central in their second game before the completion of of the East vs. Watertown game.  That put everything “on hold” until East finally prevailed in the 27th inning.

After the considerable delay, SPASH eventually played their second game beating East 5-0

In the 2nd inning, Hauser and Smola led off with singles, advanced on a ground out, and Hauser scored on and RBI ground out by Megan Roth.  SPASH added another in the 3rd to make the score 2-0.  SPASH added much needed insurance against the Division 1 #1 ranked Patriots when Smola doubled in Shuda, and Heather Woyak, then later scored on a sac fly by Leah Soik giving SPASH a 5-0 lead.  Lange was sharp once again getting her second win stiking out 3 while walking none.  The win gave the Panthers the right to play Wilmot in the Chippewa Falls Invitational Championship.  Wilmot was well rested as their 2nd game was over before SPASH’s 2nd game even began.

Wilmot 8-0 over SPASH

Rematch of the Division 1 2011 State Championship
SPASH ran out of gas as they were handily beat by the Panthers of Wilmot.

“We had two great games against Rice Lake and Appleton East and I think we ran out of gas in the last game,” said SPASH head coach Tom Drohner.  ”I was really proud of our girls. They did a phenominal job today against great competition.  The waiting obviously was not ideal, especially in the heat.  Our team is really not built for those three-game tounaments this year.  They are fun to be a part of, but they are a big time grind.  As things are, I thought we had a great day even with the loss to Wilmot.  We are all about playing single games and getting rest from here on out and in a single game format I like our girls an awful lot.”

SPASH fill face Marshfield on Tuesday at Stevens Point.

SPASH vs. Rice Lake Box

SPASH vs. Appleton East Box

SPASH vs. Wilmot Box