Spartan girls get into win column

The Superior High School softball team picked up its first win Thursday, defeating Esko 6-4 in Superior.

“It’s always a good confidence booster when you grab that first win on the season,” said Spartan coach Amy Zembo. “One thing that really stands out with this group of girls is they never give up on themselves or their teammates. We are showing signs of improvement each game and hope to build off this win.”

The Spartans got off to a fast start Thursday with three runs in the second inning. Cassy O’Neill got on base first for Superior on a walk, and she advanced to second on a single from Alison Wainionpaa. O’Neill eventually advanced to third and then came home on a pair of wild pitches. Ari Jago, running for Wainionpaa, also moved around the bases on wild pitches, and Kaitlyn Mergen walked and advanced on wild pitches until she was brought home on a sac fly by Taylor Johnson.

Esko made up one run in the top of the third when Steph Miller singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single. The Eskomos came back the rest of the way with two runs on two hits in the fourth inning and took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning behind two singles and a wild pitch.

Supeior’s Taylor Thompson then came in to pitch and got Esko to fly out to end in inning. She then held Esko in check the rest of the way by retiring its batters 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh innings, including three strikeouts.

The Spartans, on the other hand, managed another three-run inning in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead. Mergen began the rally with a single, and pinch ran and scored to tie the game at 4-4. Johnson, who singled, then game Superior the lead when she scored on a wild pitch, and Alex Ledin gave the Spartans an insurance run when she walked, stole third and then scored on a wild pitch.

For the game, Kari Miller was 2-for-3 for the Spartans and Johnson was 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Mergen and Wainionpaa also picked up one hit each for Superior.

Steph Miller led Esko going 2-for-3 with a double, and Kayla Garson also had two hits.

Thompson was the winning pitcher for Superior, while Abbey Saralampi suffered the loss for Esko.

SPARTAN SPIN: The SHS junior varsity team won 11-0 in five inning. Shannon Johnstad was the winning pitcher.

Superior 6, Esko 4

Superior 030 003 x — 6 5 1

Esko 001 210 0 — 4 6 0

Tags: sports, superior, spartans, updates, esko