Sadie Mercier again hopes to be one of the sparks for Spencer softball

SPENCER - Sadie Mercier helped give the Spencer softball team a spark when it was needed last year. 

The Rockets had opened their schedule with five straight losses. The sixth game was a 15-1 win over Chequamegon as Mercier went 4-for-4 with three runs scored as Spencer's leadoff hitter. 

"Our coach said (before the game), 'Who is going to start us off today?' I said it was going to be me," said Mercier, the left-handed hitting Rockets shortstop said. "I said, 'I'm going to start us off. I'm sick of being 0 and 5 and I don't want our season to go like this.' I decided it was my time and our time to get going."

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Mercier and the Rockets didn't slow down. Spencer went undefeated in the Cloverbelt Conference East Division as part of a 15-game winning streak. Mercier finished with a .482 batting average and scored 25 runs and was a second-team all-conference selection in a year in which she saw time at third base and catcher. 

She is one of four seniors and three captains for the softball team this spring and also was a setter for the volleyball squad. She recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about her junior season, Spencer's conference winning streak and why a certain Earth, Wind and Fire song is part of her pregame ritual. 

You are coming off a season in which you had a team-high batting average. How do you want to build off a year like that, or what is your mindset this season?

You can't really think about it too much. All I think about is that I want to get on base because I love base running. That's my thing. I just want to get out there, be aggressive and show the younger girls how to do it. 

Spencer graduated a few key people from last year but the team carries some high expectations into this season. What are your thoughts on this group?

Me and Lexi Baehr have been on varsity since our freshman year and we haven't lost a conference game our entire softball career, so that's a big goal for us this year — to keep that going.

Teams are looking at you as the team to beat (in the conference) because of that. Does the team feel that pressure and do you like that?

Honestly, I love it. We played Greenwood (Tuesday) night and they are one of our biggest competition in the conference and we've got Gilman on Friday. Every time I've played them during high school it's been a big game and one that's important to us. I think it makes those games even more fun to have that pressure. There's even more adrenaline. I love that feeling. 

What is your top sports memory?

Probably beating Marathon and Stratford in the GT Slam Fest (tournament) my freshman year. I was only a pinch runner but just being part of the that and being able to beat both of those teams in the same day was a huge thing for me. I know my role wasn't huge but I still contributed and loved doing that. 

Is there a moment which is not as memorable or one you would like to forget?

Probably last year's loss to Thorp (in the WIAA postseason). We were leading 6-1 and in one inning they came all the way back and beat us 7-6. We had beat them earlier in the season and that made it especially tough. It's taking that (loss) and the pressure and learning from it this year. 

Are you superstitious at all? Do you have any pregame traditions?

Before every game, I have to listen to "Boogie Wonderland." I love that song, it's my jam. 

Where did that come from?

I watch "The Office" a lot and in one episode they jam out to that song. It kind of stuck with me. I love that song so much.

And does it work for you?

I really think it does. It gets my blood pumping. 

Who is your celebrity crush?

Channing Tatum. 

Where is your dream vacation?

Italy or France. 

What is your postgraduation plan?

I'll attend Minnesota State, Mankato and pursue nursing. 

FAVORITES

Sport: Softball, volleyball.

Pro or college athlete: (Former Wisconsin volleyball setter) Lauren Carlini.

TV show: "The Office."

Movie: "The Fighter."

Food or meal: My mom makes this real killer croissant and chicken casserole.