Spearfish High School’s varsity softball team enters its upcoming matchup against O’Gorman with two of its top hitters carrying significant momentum, even as the young squad works to improve on a 1–4 start to the season.
Junior Emme Johnson leads the Spartans into Friday’s game riding a five‑game hitting streak, during which she has gone 7‑for‑17 with three extra‑base hits. Johnson has been a key contributor both at the plate and in the circle, logging more than 20 innings pitched so far this season — the most on the roster.
Third baseman Olivia Lyons has also emerged as one of Spearfish’s most consistent offensive threats. Lyons has driven in runs in four straight games and is hitting .467 during her own five‑game hitting streak. Over that stretch, she has gone 6‑for‑12 with five RBIs. Her season numbers place her at the top of the team statistically, with a 1.289 OPS, a .556 on‑base percentage, and a .733 slugging percentage. Lyons has also shown early‑season power, recording both a home run and a double among her seven hits.
Defensively, shortstop Rozlyn Dobson leads Spearfish with 25 total fielding chances, anchoring the infield for a team still searching for consistency.
Their opponent, the O’Gorman Knights, enters the matchup with a 7–5 record and one of the state’s most productive hitters in Laila Noonan, who leads the Knights with a 1.590 OPS and has thrown 37 innings as their primary pitcher. Shortstop Sonia Deckert leads O’Gorman with 51 fielding chances, providing stability for a defense that has helped the Knights stay above .500.
For Spearfish, Friday’s game represents an opportunity to translate individual success into team results. With Johnson and Lyons producing at a high level and several young players gaining experience, the Spartans hope to turn early‑season progress into wins as they move deeper into their schedule.
