Softball: Sagely caps career in style at West Fork

Spencer Sagely
Spencer Sagely

WEST FORK -- By now, Spencer Sagely doesn't think twice about the high school softball coach who just happens to be her father.

After all, the daughter in the relationship has had plenty of practice playing for dad.

Spencer Sagely

SCHOOL West Fork

CLASS Senior

POSITION Shortstop

NOTABLE Named 2013 Newcomer of the Year. … Four-year starter, named all-state for the Lady Tigers as a junior. … Hitting a team-high .539 with team-best 28 RBIs and 22 runs scored this season. … Has made just five errors this season in 22 games at her shortstop position. … Plays for her father, West Fork softball coach Tony Sagely.

Spencer Sagely, a senior shortstop at West Fork, is in her fourth varsity season with the Lady Tigers and her fourth playing for dad. At first, the thought of running out of the dugout each and every day under the watchful eye of her father might have been a strange. But now, Spencer has bigger items on her softball agenda, such as helping West Fork continue on as it has rolled through to a 3A conference and district tournament title already this season.

"I can't believe it's been four years, and I don't want it to come to an end," she said. "It's had its ups and downs, playing for my dad, like with anyone, but I wouldn't have it any other way. If I hadn't played for my dad, I wouldn't love softball as much as I have."

Sagely is one of only two seniors on the roster this year and has no problem providing a big leadership role with this group of Lady Tigers. Her wealth of experience on the diamond also makes her an ideal player for the younger teammates to follow.

"She's all-state last year and again this year," Tony Sagely said. "She hit over .400 last year and hitting over .500 this year. She was freshman of the year and hit .500 that year. So she's just been pretty solid throughout her career.

"Luckily for us most of our girls around (Spencer) started last year. Every girl except for one started last year, so that helps her."

West Fork (16-6) finished 9-1 in the 3A-1 West Conference regular season and won the district tournament with a 10-4 victory against Greenland. The Lady Tigers face Lamar at 10 a.m. today in the first round of the 3A Region I Tournament in Atkins.

Spencer Sagely, who is hitting a team-high .539 with 28 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while also committing just five errors on the season at the difficult shortstop position, believes the Lady Tigers have what it takes to make a deep postseason run.

"I think we can do some big things," Spencer Sagely said. "We hit the ball well, we've got a deep lineup and our pitcher and catcher are always in sync.

"So I think we can do well."

Sports on 05/05/2016

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