The Superior High School softball team won its eighth straight game with a 6-0 shutout of the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers Thursday evening in Duluth.
Spartan pitcher Amanda LeBard was near perfect in picking up the win, striking out 12 and walking one in a complete-game effort.
SHS coach Amy Zembo said LeBard had faced the minimum number of batters going into the seventh inning. Then with two outs and an 0-2 count, Marshall's Eva Meierhoff hit a hard ball to short that was misplayed.
Marshall credited Meierhoff with a hit on the play, but there was no question in Zembo's mind that it was an error. The call is the difference between a perfect game and a one-hitter for LeBard, an impressive outing either way.
"Amanda had a strong game," Zembo said. "She threw about 30 fewer pitches than her season average, which was nice to see."
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Marshall's pitcher, Steph Carlson, also had a strong game, striking out 12 and walking three in seven innings.
"Steph did a nice job keeping our hitters off balance," Zembo said. "She mixed things up well, and caught quite a few looking at that outside corner third strike."
Taylor VanDamme again had a solid game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run. Jarzin also added a home run, and Olson, Eisenmann and Lauren Kontny each had singles.
"Taylor remains on fire on offense; she really is a gifted athlete who makes things look so easy," Zembo said.
Superior took a 2-0 with VanDamme's two-out homer over the fence in right-center field in the first inning and Jarzin's lead-off homer in the second.
Later in the second inning, Ashlee Olson reached on error and made her way to third on wild pitches. She was then batted in by Emily Eisenmann for a 3-0 Superior lead.
The Spartans put the game away in the fifth inning. Taking advantage of a walk and a number of Marshall errors, Superior scored three runs in the inning to get the 6-0 win.
The Spartans are not in action again until Tuesday, when they play at Duluth Denfeld at 4:30 p.m. Superior will then wrap up its regular season by playing Duluth Central at home at 4:30 p.m. Thursday and then Eau Claire Memorial in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
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"We definitely are keeping the momentum on our side going into the last week of regular play," Zembo said. "I hope we can carry it through into the regional playoff games."
SPARTAN SPIN: Superior is the No. 3 seed for the WIAA playoffs and will host Eau Claire Memorial on Tuesday, May 22.
Wisconsin Softball Playoffs
Division 1, Sectional 1
Tuesday, May 22
First-round Games
No. 6 E.C. Memorial at No. 3 Superior, 5 p.m.
No. 7 River Falls at No. 2 Hudson, 4:30 p.m.
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No. 5 Menomonie at No. 4 Eau Claire No., 5 p.m.
No. 1 Chippewa Falls, bye
Thursday, May 24
Regional Finals
Menmonie-Eau Claire North winner at No. 1 Chippewa Falls, 4 p.m.
Hudson-River Fall winner vs. ECM-Superior winner
