In a playoff matchup between a pair of Lakes Conference
rivals, Spencer eliminated Spirit
Lake from the Class 3A
District playoffs with a 9-5 victory in LeMars on Friday. The Tigers led from
start to finish, and took advantage of three runs in the top of the seventh to
insure their victory. Each team plated runs in the first and third innings,
with Spencer leading 6-4. The Indians closed to within one before the final
offensive outburst. Both teams had their issues defensively, combining for a
dozen errors in the contest. Nic Amundson reached base all four times with one
hit and two runs scored to lead Spirit
Lake. Paul Brown had the
lone RBI, and took the loss. The junior allowed six runs, only three earned, on
seven hits with four strikeouts in less than three innings of work. Brandon
Stoll fanned six in four-plus innings of relief. Freshman Chase Habben paced
the Spencer offense from the DH spot, going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in
and two scored. The Tigers outhit the Indians by an 11-5 margin. Tayler Tatman
went the distance for the victory, surrendering three earned runs and tallying
four strikeouts. Spirit
Lake ends the season with
an overall record of 18-9. Spencer improves to 16-3
In the other semifinal, Lakes Conference champion LeMars
defeated Siouxland Conference champ MOC-Floyd
Valley, 14-6. The Dutch
went 19-11 this summer, while the Bulldogs boast a 27-6 mark. LeMars will host
Spencer on Monday for the district final, with a first pitch at 7pm.
Also in Class 3A, Storm
Lake lost at home to Humboldt
by a 2-0 final. The Tornadoes cap their year at 16-14. The Wildcats will return
to Storm Lake on Monday to battle fourth-ranked
Sioux City Bishop Heelan, after the Crusaders ousted Algona in a rout, 15-3.
