The Superior High School softball team took the field Thursday night with winning on its mind, and it showed as the Spartans defeated Grand Rapids 4-2.
Superior is now 7-3 overall, while Grand Rapids is 9-2.
For Superior, the first inning was key. Junior Ashley Martin led off for SHS and got the team on the right track with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. After Britnee Blake was walked and stole second, Taylor VanDamme stepped up and cleared the bases for Superior with a three-run home run.
"We came out in the first inning ready to play," SHS coach Amy Zembo said. "Katie McBride is a great pitcher, so to get those three runs right away was a key to our success today."
Grand Rapids inched back, scoring one run in the second and another in the fourth to cut Superior's lead to 3-2. In the sixth inning, the Spartans increased their lead when VanDamme scored on a single from Lauren Kontny. Neither team scored in the seventh, and the game ended with Superior up 4-2.
ADVERTISEMENT
Pitching was solid in the game, on both sides. Amanda LeBard picked up the win for Superior, while McBride took the loss for Grand Rapids. Both players pitched a complete game, and both walked only one batter. McBride had 11 strikeouts and allowed six hits, while LeBard had nine strikeouts and gave up two hits.
"LeBard pitched a great game; she was in control from the start," Zembo said. "We made a few miscues in the field, but she came back and ended almost every scoring threat with a strikeout."
On offense for the Spartans, VanDamme went 2-for-3 with the three-run homer, Martin had a double, and Kontny, Ashlee Olson and Anna Pettingill had singles.
McBride also delivered for Grand Rapids on offense, as she had both of the team's RBIs.
The Spartans will play three games beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at the St. Francis Tournament.
