The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Flying Dutch off to 2-1 start
Manchester wins pair on road, but Wildcats spoil home opener
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 17, 2008
An early hole proved too deep for the Manchester varsity softball team Monday.
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Despite a six strikeout effort from sophomore pitcher Jenny Stautz, the Flying Dutch had their home opener spoiled with a 4-1 loss to the Onsted Wildcats in a non-conference game.
Manchester (2-1) began Cascades Conference play Wednesday with a doubleheader at Michigan Center.
Onsted starting pitcher Brooke Stewart kept the Dutch off the scoreboard through five innings. By that time, the Wildcats had built a 2-0 lead after plating a run in the top of the second inning and another on a Manchester error in the fifth. The Dutch had chances to get back in the game, but Onsted was able to escape the jams by catching Manchester base runners off guard.
"(Onsted) is a good team, but we made some base running mistakes," Manchester coach Nikole Fether said. "We have a good hitting team, but we had a bad day today."
The Wildcats came up with four hits in the top of the sixth inning and plated two more runs, making it 4-0.
Manchester found its offense in the bottom of the frame as Roxanne Rickert delivered an RBI double, scoring Amanda Barker. However, Stewart and the Wildcats worked out of the jam, then shut down the Dutch in the seventh inning to take the victory.
"We had a couple of leadoff walks which hurt us," Fether said. "I'm glad (the loss) happened now because it doesn't affect the league. Hopefully we can learn something from this and move on."
Stautz went the distance in the circle for Manchester, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out six. Rickert finished with two hits, both of which doubles, to lead the Dutch offense.
Stewart pitched all seven innings and earned the victory for Onsted.
After opening league play Wednesday, the Dutch will return to action Saturday with a doubleheader at Quincey. They return to Cascades play April 23 with a doubleheader at Napoleon.
"Our league is very tough and anyone can win any game," Fether said. "This is the best offense I've had with some great hitters, and we'll be alright. I feel we can compete with the teams in our league."
Dutch at Sand Creek
A big seventh inning helped the Manchester varsity softball team rally for a 12-9 victory over the Sand Creek Aggies in a non-conference game April 9.
Trailing 8-6 entering the top of the seventh, the Flying Dutch erupted for six runs in the frame to grab the lead. Sand Creek plated a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Dutch didn't let it get any closer.
Roxanne Rickert started the rally with a single, then came home on a RBI single by Jenny Stautz. Manchester grabbed the lead for good thanks to consecutive two-RBI doubles by Stephanie Preston and Amanda Barker.
"We hadn't beaten Sand Creek in a while, so this was a huge win for us," Manchester coach Nikole Fether said.
Rickert went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Dutch. Barker was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run, while Preston went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Stautz finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run for Manchester.
Taylor Parks pitched the final five innings in relief and earned the victory. She allowed four runs on one hit and struck out six. Rickert started the game, allowing five runs (three earned) on two hits and striking out two in two innings.
Dutch at Adrian Madison
A quick start propelled the Manchester varsity softball team to a 10-4 victory over the Adrian Madison Trojans in the season opener April 8.
The Flying Dutch came out of the blocks hot, scoring seven runs in the top of the first inning. Madison answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame before the pitchers kept the game scoreless for the next 4 1/2 innings.
The Trojans added a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Manchester put the game away with three runs in the top of the seventh.
The Dutch had 11 hits in the game. Roxanne Rickert led the way, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Julie Fielder went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Hannah Caszatt was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Jenny Stautz added a hit, two RBIs and a run. Taylor Parks went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs for Manchester.
Stautz went the distance in the circle for the Dutch. The sophomore allowed four runs on four hits and struck out five to earn the pitching victory.
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