The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Fairbanks, Rickert spark Dutch past East Jackson
Manchester records consecutive wins for first time this season
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 3, 2007
While a senior shut the door on the opposing, a freshman provided an offensive spark for the Manchester varsity softball team.
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Alex Fairbanks pitched a complete game, while Roxanne Rickert led the hitting attack as the Flying Dutch posted a 5-0 victory over the East Jackson Trojans in Monday's Cascades Conference game.
Manchester (4-10, 1-4 Cascades) posted its first league win of the season. It also was the first time this year the Dutch have won consecutive games.
The Dutch jumped to a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Three more runs in the bottom of the fifth helped Manchester pull away.
Errors had plagued the Dutch early in the season, but they cut down their mistakes against East Jackson. For the game, Manchester was charged with two errors, but that had little effect on the outcome.
"Defensively we played much better," Manchester coach Nikole Fether said. "We made the errors, but were able to contain them and not allow (East Jackson) to push any runs across."
Fairbanks kept the Trojans off balance in the circle to earn the pitching win. The senior went the distance, striking out seven. She also had help from Rickert, who made several key defensive plays at third base to help preserve the shutout. Rickert also led Manchester's offense, going 3-for-3 at the plate.
"Roxanne played a phenomenal game at third base," Fether said. "She's leading the team in batting average, and is a consistent, tough kid."
Shanel Mullins and Erin Robinson each had two hits, while Emily Lobbestael and Emily Johnson both hit a double. Hannah Caszatt and Julie Fielder each finished with a hit for the Dutch.
Wednesday's game at Michigan Center took place after the newspaper's deadline. The Dutch will travel to Grass Lake for a single game Friday. Manchester will look to avenge an 11-5 loss to the Warriors in the team's first meeting April 18.
Dutch at Blissfield
Tournament
After running into two powerhouse teams, the Flying Dutch finished 1-2 in Saturday's Blissfield Tournament with a 17-1 victory over Webberville.
Manchester cranked out 16 hits in the game and committed just one error. The contest was stopped after four innings due to the mercy rule.
Rickert led the attack with four hits, while Mullins added three hits for the Dutch. Robinson, Fairbanks, Fielder and Jenny Stautz each added two hits for Manchester.
Fairbanks recorded the pitching win in relief, striking out six in three innings. Rickert started the game in the circle, striking out two in one inning.
"Both pitchers threw well, and we played better defense," Fether said.
Earlier in the day, the Dutch suffered a pair of lopsided defeats, falling to host Blissfield 13-3 in the opener and taking a 22-0 loss to Frankfort in the second game.
Manchester was charged with six errors against Blissfield. The game was stopped after five innings because of the mercy rule.
"We made too many mental errors and you can't do that against a good team like Blissfield," Fether said.
Caszatt and Fielder each had two hits to lead the Dutch, while Stautz added a hit. Fairbanks took the pitching loss despite striking out five in five innings.
The game against Frankfort was stopped after three innings, as the state-power dominated on both sides of the ball.
Manchester did not record a hit in the game and made five errors.
"We just ran into two very good teams in Frankfort and Blissfield," Fether said.
Stautz was charged with the pitching loss for Manchester.
Dutch vs. Hanover-Horton
Despite an improved defensive effort, walks came back to haunt the Flying Dutch in a 9-3 loss to the Hanover-Horton Comets in a Cascades Conference game last Friday.
Manchester made only one error in the contest, but walked eight Hanover batters. The Comets plated four runs in the top of the second inning to gain control of the game.
"We struggled to put the ball where we needed to," Fether said. "The walks killed us."
The Dutch had seven hits in the game. Johnson led the way with two hits, while Mullins, Stautz, Lobbestael, Fairbanks and Deanna Uhr each added a hit.
Stautz took the pitching loss, lasting 1 1/3 innings.
Dutch vs. Napoleon
Taking advantage of errors for a pair of big innings helped the Napoleon Pirates to an 8-4 victory over the Flying Dutch in a Cascades Conference game April 23.
Manchester played even with the perennial league power most of the way, but was slowed by four errors. The mistakes led to three Napoleon runs in the third inning and two in the sixth, giving the Pirates control of the game.
"I thought we played well with them, but we need to get rid of the errors," Fether said.
Fielder got the Dutch started with a two-run home run in the first inning that cleared the left field fence, pulling Manchester into a 2-2 tie. The Dutch were shut down after that, as Napoleon ace pitcher Abby Richardson scattered four hits in the game, and the Pirates constantly made defensive plays to quiet any rally attempts.
Rickert added a double for Manchester, while Caszatt and Michelle Walter each added a hit. Stautz went the distance in the circle, allowing 12 hits and striking out two and taking the loss.
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