The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Bats go silent as Dutch fall twice
Manchester held to six hits in doubleheader, now on five-game skid
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
During the first week of the season, the Manchester varsity softball team was able to come up with timely hits in winning two of its first three games.
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That changed drastically April 19 as the Flying Dutch mustered six hits over two games and were swept in a doubleheader by the Quincy Orioles, falling 11-1 and 12-1.
Manchester (2-5, 0-2 Cascades) saw its losing streak extend to five games. The Dutch were held to one hit in the opener and committed five errors in a game that was stopped after the sixth inning due to the mercy rule. They managed five hits in the second game, but were hurt by three more errors and a pair of big innings by the Orioles. The nightcap was stopped after five innings due to the mercy rule.
"It was a rough week, but we'll improve," Fether said. "Our hitting was lacking in both games."
The Dutch started well in the opener. Jenny Stautz got on base with a walk, then Roxanne Rickert drove her home with an RBI single. That would be Manchester's only offensive threat of the game.
Quincy answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, then took control of the game with four runs in the third, building a 6-1 lead. The Orioles added three more runs in the fourth inning before scoring two more in the bottom of the sixth to force the mercy rule.
Only five of Quincy's 11 runs were earned.
"We had five costly errors that hurt us," Fether said.
Stautz started in the circle for the Dutch and took the pitching loss. The sophomore lasted 2 1/3 innings, allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits and struck out one. Rickert pitched the final three innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits, walking five and striking out one.
Manchester had another good start in the nightcap. Amanda Barker led off the top of the first inning with a walk, then Stephanie Preston scored her with a RBI hit. The Orioles tied the game in the bottom half of the frame, then took control with four runs in the second. Quincy extended its lead to 8-1 with three more runs in the third before adding four more an inning later to force the mercy.
Rickert finished 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Dutch. Preston finished 1-for-3 with her RBI, while Julie Fielder and Caitlynne O'Dell had the other hits for Manchester.
Stautz took the pitching loss, allowing 12 runs (seven earned) on eight hits. She struck out two but walked seven batters.
"Our pitcher were walking too many batters in all the games this week," Fether said.
Dutch at Michigan Center
The Manchester varsity softball team was swept in its Cascades Conference openers April 16, dropping 4-3 and 11-9 decisions to the Michigan Center Cardinals.
The Flying Dutch appeared on their way to a victory in the first game, holding a 3-2 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning, but an error in the frame allowed Michigan Center to draw even. Manchester was held scoreless in the top of the seventh, then the Cardinals scored the winning run in the bottom of the inning thanks to a base hit, two walks and a passed ball.
Michigan Center plated two runs in the bottom of the first, but the Dutch came back with two of their own in the top of the third. Manchester grabbed a 3-2 lead an inning later and kept the Cardinals off the board over the next three innings.
Each team had eight hits in the game. Stephanie Preston went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Dutch, while Julie Fielder was 2-for-4 with a RBI. Emily Johnson and Chloe Miller each had a hit and RBI for Manchester.
Jenny Stautz allowed four runs (three earned) and struck out five but was charged with the pitching loss.
In the nightcap, the Cardinals jumped to a 4-1 lead after two innings, then tacked on four more runs in the top of the fourth.
The Dutch answered back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Michigan Center plated three of their own in the sixth to build an 11-4 lead. Manchester made things interesting with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to get any closer.
Amanda Barker went 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Dutch. Rickert was 3-for-4 with a RBI and run, while Preston went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
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