Spencer scores 10 straight runs, but comes up four short

Famed Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi once opined after a tough loss that “We didn’t lose the game; we just ran out of time.”

That is surely a sentiment the Spencer Rockets softball team shared on May 6 after the Rockets lost a decision to the visiting Abbotsford/ Colby softball co-op by just four runs.

What made the loss so bitter was the knowledge that a better start might have led to the first victory of the 2021 season.

After scoring a combined three runs in losses to Pittsville and Greenwood/Loyal to start the year, Spencer came alive in the final four innings of their Eastern Cloverbelt clash with Abby/Colby, out-scoring their opponents 10-0.

If they hadn’t started the third inning down 15-1, they may very well have walked away way the W. As it was, Spencer coach Heidi Brostowitz was proud of the fight her young team exhibited in front of friends and fans at ARC Park.

“I think a game like this shows that even though we’re a little inexperienced, we’re able to perform at competitive level,” Brostowitz said after the game.

She chalked the comeback up to better communication, but also just a desire to fight to the very end.

“I think a lot of our comeback came from being able to communicate and just being willing to go all out,” Brostowitz said. “I think every day this group of girls tries very hard and we’ve worked on making every day a little bit better. I think today they have shown that they have gotten better.”

The Abbotsford/Colby co-op ,on the other hand, was coming off a victory over Owen-Witheetwonightsbeforeinwhichtheyslugged 21 runs. That big hitting carried over into Thursday.

Abby/Colby raced out to a quick start thanks to their hits and Spencer errors. Madison Knecht struck out one batter, and the Rockets’ defense did the rest, but Spencer went scoreless in the first inning, and faced a 3-0 deficit heading into the second.

Abby/Colby notched another pair of runs to go up 5-0. Spencer finally got on board in the bottom of the second when Zalexis Mannigel scored to make it 5-1.

Samantha Soback and Jaci Cook each had a pair of hits, with Soback crushing a double, and the Rockets had a golden opportunity to shorten their visitor’s lead even more with base-runners on second and third, but Emma Peavey struck out Hayly Smith and Kaelyn Schreiner.

The third inning decided the eventual outcome of the game. Abby/Colby bruised the bats for six hits, took advantage of walks and errors, and tacked on nine runs to take a 15-1 lead going into the bottom of the third.

Atthispoint,theRocketscouldhavethrown in the towel, but they refused to give up, and their persistence paid off.

A double by Elexa Post drove in one run, CassideeWidmann scored another, and Spencer took advantage of several errors that led to runs from Cook, Post and Widmann that sent the game into the fourth.

Spencer went on to control the fourth and fifth innings. Knecht, Post, Mannigel and Sobeck all singled, with Knecht and Post scoring a pair of runs that made it 15-6 in the fourth. Spencer loaded the bases, but Abby/Colby got a third out.

No matter for the Rockets, as they took that momentum and brought it into the fifth inning. Once again, the Rockets held Abby/ Colby scoreless, and this time, it was Spencer’s turn to blister the bats.

Cook, Post, Smith and Widmann all drove in singles. Smith beat a throw at first, stole second, and scored off a single from Cook.

But it was #9 with the biggest hit of the night for Spencer. Widmann got up to bat, and knocked the ball deep into the outfield for a double. Widmann’s double led to three RBIs as Knecht, Post and Cook rounded the bases to make it 15-10.

After being down by as many as 14 runs, suddenly Spencer had all the momentum. Smith got another single, and Cook scored, and it was now 15-11 in the bottom of the sixth.

For the fourth straight inning, the Rockets held Abby/Colby scoreless at the top of the seventh, but with the game now in the seventh inning, it was now or never for Spencer.

Abby/Colby got regrouped and got two quick outs. Peavey walked three batters, and it lookedasthoughtheRocketswouldmakegood on their comeback bid, but Peavey closed the door on Spencer, striking out the final hitter and dropping the Rockets to 0-3 on the year.

Post led the Rockets with three singles, including one double. Widmann had two hits, one double and four RBIs. Soback, Cook and Smith each recorded two singles. Knecht and Mannigel added a single apiece.

After, it was up to coach Brostowitz to put the game into perspective, and she praised her players, and hoped they learned the value of energy and effort.

“Ihopegoingforwardwekeepthatmindset of getting better every day. It’s all about one pitch at a time, and them knowing what they can do, and being ready for the play to not be over yet.”

Spencer’s Cassidee Widmann winds up to tee off on an Abby-Colby pitch during the Rockets’ 15-11 loss on May 6 at the Spencer ARC Park. Widmann drove in four runs in the game as Spencer fought back from a 15-1 deficit to make it a close contest.

ROSS PATTERMANN/STAFF PHOTO