The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Flying Dutch earn doubleheader split
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 26, 2007
While the bats have carried the Manchester varsity softball team over the first two weeks of the season, its defense hasn't always complemented the offense.
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It did for one game Saturday, as the Flying Dutch split a non-conference doubleheader with the Quincy Orioles, winning the opener 11-4 and falling in the nightcap 12-7.
Manchester (2-6, 0-2 Cascades) used a big fourth inning to gain control of the first game, but errors slowed the Dutch in the second game.
In the opener, the Dutch cranked out 12 hits, with four players having multiple-hit games. Manchester complemented the offense by not making an error in the game for the first time this season.
"We played excellent," Manchester coach Nikole Fether said. "We'd have no losses if we played like that since the beginning of the year."
A close game turned into a rout as the Dutch erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Manchester freshman pitcher Jenny Stautz shut down the Orioles the rest of the way and recorded her first career victory.
Stautz went the distance in the circle and recorded nine strikeouts.
Hannah Caszatt had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Dutch offense. Stephanie Preston, Julie Fielder and Erin Robinson each added two hits, while Shanel Mullins belted a triple. Stautz had a double for Manchester.
The bats remained hot for the Dutch in the second game, but some defensive lapses proved costly. Manchester once again finished with 12 hits, but committed four errors which led to six Quincy runs.
"If we don't make the errors, we win the game," Fether said.
The loss spoiled another strong game at the plate from Caszatt and Preston. Caszatt had two hits and four RBIs, while Preston added three hits to lead Manchester's attack. Fielder and Robinson each added two hits.
"I'm happy with the way we're hitting the ball," Fether said. "(Roxanne) Rickert is hitting .400 and I have three more in the .300s, which is better than we've been in years past."
Stautz pitched all seven innings again and took the loss. The freshman struck out six and walked four in the game.
"Jenny pitched really well all weekend and could've won both games," Fether said. "We didn't play solid defense behind her, and we need to be more consistent. If you're scoring seven runs a game, you should have more wins."
Wednesday's game at Addison took place after press deadline. The Dutch are scheduled to host Hanover-Horton for a single game Friday.
Dutch at Vandercook Lake
A fast start lifted the Vandercook Lake Jayhawks to a 9-0 victory over the Flying Dutch in a Cascades Conference game last Friday.
Vandercook Lake scored four runs off of Stautz in the first inning. Roxanne Rickert came on in relief to start the second inning, but was greeted with three more runs.
"We decided to make the switch and see what happens, but they hit the ball well," Fether said. "We didn't play bad physically, but we weren't mentally where we needed to be."
Mullins led the offense for the Dutch with two hits. Fielder, Robinson and Emily Johnson each collected a hit.
Stautz took the pitching loss, striking out one and walking two. Rickert had three strikeouts and four walks in the final five innings.
Dutch vs. Grass Lake
The middle innings were kind to the Grass Lake Warriors as they surged to an 11-5 victory over Manchester in the Cascades Conference opener for both teams April 18.
The Warriors busted open a close game with nine runs over the third and fourth innings. In that span, Grass Lake delivered seven hits while the Dutch committed three errors.
"Whenever they put the bats on the ball it was a hit," Fether said. "Plus we had our errors, which killed us."
Alex Fairbanks started the game in the circle for Manchester, striking out seven in the first four innings. Stautz pitched the final three innings, striking out six and walking two.
Robinson belted out three hits, including two doubles to lead Manchester. Rickert, Fielder and Emily Lobbestael each had a hit and RBI. The Dutch had eight hits for the game.
Dutch at Onsted
The Flying Dutch were not about to extend their winless streak to four games.
After making a big rally in the top of the seventh inning, Manchester held on for a 7-6 victory over the Onsted Wildcats on April 16, picking up its first win of the season.
Trailing 4-2 entering the seventh inning, the Dutch roared back with five runs in the frame.
Fielder started the rally with an RBI single that scored Crystal Poertner, then Rickert drove in Fielder and Robinson with a two-RBI double, giving Manchester a 5-4 lead. Later in the frame, Lobbestael delivered a two-RBI single, scoring Rickert and Stautz.
Onsted didn't go quietly, scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning and getting the tying run to third base, but the Dutch escaped the jam.
"It got pretty exciting at the end," Fether said.
Fielder had four hits in the game with two RBIs to lead Manchester. Rickert added two hits and two RBIs, while Robinson finished with two hits, including a triple.
Fairbanks earned the win in the circle for the Dutch, going the distance and striking out four.
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