Lady Tigers Fall In Softball Sectional
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Playing Northern Lakes Conference rival Goshen for the third time this season, the Lady Tigers managed just three hits off ace pitcher Natalie Newell and lost 4-0 in Class 4A sectional play at Elkhart Memorial High School Monday.[[In-content Ad]]Newell had just five strikeouts through the first five innings, but struck out five of the last six Warsaw batters she faced, as the Lady Redskins advanced to Wednesday's semifinal game against the host Lady Crimson Chargers.
Goshen also beat Warsaw 5-3 on April 21 and 6-0 on May 7.
Memorial advanced to Wednesday's semifinal by beating Elkhart Central 3-2 in Monday's first game. Concord and Northridge play in Wednesday's other semifinal contest, with the winners meeting in Friday's championship game.
The Lady Redskins improved to 26-4, while Warsaw's season ended with a 14-11 record.
"We look forward to playing playing Memorial," said Goshen coach Scott Hutcherson. "They're well-coached. We have some unfinished business, and tonight was the first step."
In Goshen's last two games against Warsaw, Newell tallied 25 strikeouts, and the Lady Redskins won those games by a combined score of 10-0.
"She's definitely top-notch," Warsaw coach Nikki Wood said of Newell. "Her junk stuff is tough to hit. The last time we played them, I think we had 12 strikeouts because of the rise ball, or looking. We tried to step out and break her rhythm. She's just good. She's one of the best in the state."
The Lady Tigers put the bat on the ball Monday, but just couldn't find very many gaps in Goshen's defense.
All three of Warsaw's hits came from the sophomore class, as Kelsey Dotson ripped a double and Kendra Marshall and Erin McCarty each had a single.
"There was promise," said Wood. "We had 15 strikeouts the last time we played them, tonight we only had 10. We hit the ball better, just not when we needed to. I feel like we beat ourselves. We had some early errors that killed us."
Goshen put its first run on the board in the top of the first inning, as freshman Aimee Swihart led off the game with a double and scored.
The Lady Redskins then added three runs in the third inning.
"That's about as to perfect as we can play," said Hutcherson. "We had a couple errors early, but we stayed focused. I'm very proud of the girls. They played really hard and they were focused."
Junior Cassi Cook hit two doubles for Goshen, while senior Katelynn Flory also hit a double for the Lady Redskins.
Newell pitched all seven innings for Goshen, giving up three hits, striking out 10 and walking none.
She improved her record this season to 18-2.
For Warsaw, senior Sam Snider took the loss after pitching 5-1/3 innings. She gave up six hits and four runs, while striking out seven and walking five.
Senior Kaitlin Gruenewald came on in relief and gave up one hit.
While Wood was disappointed in the loss, she is excited about her team's future.
"We're a young team," said Wood. "We have five seniors, but we have a freshman in the outfield and a freshman at third base. We have young girls, and I'm really excited about their potential. We have a lot of young talent coming in for next year."
GOSHEN 4, WARSAW 0
G 103 000 0 - 4 7 1
W 000 000 0 - 0 3 2
Natalie Newell (W, 18-2) and Aimee Swihart; Sam Snider (L), Kaitlin Gruenewald (6th) and Kelsey Dotson.
2B - Cassie Cook (G) 2, Katelynn Flory (G), Aimee Swihart (G), Kelsey Dotson (W)
Records: Goshen 26-4, Warsaw 14-11
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Playing Northern Lakes Conference rival Goshen for the third time this season, the Lady Tigers managed just three hits off ace pitcher Natalie Newell and lost 4-0 in Class 4A sectional play at Elkhart Memorial High School Monday.[[In-content Ad]]Newell had just five strikeouts through the first five innings, but struck out five of the last six Warsaw batters she faced, as the Lady Redskins advanced to Wednesday's semifinal game against the host Lady Crimson Chargers.
Goshen also beat Warsaw 5-3 on April 21 and 6-0 on May 7.
Memorial advanced to Wednesday's semifinal by beating Elkhart Central 3-2 in Monday's first game. Concord and Northridge play in Wednesday's other semifinal contest, with the winners meeting in Friday's championship game.
The Lady Redskins improved to 26-4, while Warsaw's season ended with a 14-11 record.
"We look forward to playing playing Memorial," said Goshen coach Scott Hutcherson. "They're well-coached. We have some unfinished business, and tonight was the first step."
In Goshen's last two games against Warsaw, Newell tallied 25 strikeouts, and the Lady Redskins won those games by a combined score of 10-0.
"She's definitely top-notch," Warsaw coach Nikki Wood said of Newell. "Her junk stuff is tough to hit. The last time we played them, I think we had 12 strikeouts because of the rise ball, or looking. We tried to step out and break her rhythm. She's just good. She's one of the best in the state."
The Lady Tigers put the bat on the ball Monday, but just couldn't find very many gaps in Goshen's defense.
All three of Warsaw's hits came from the sophomore class, as Kelsey Dotson ripped a double and Kendra Marshall and Erin McCarty each had a single.
"There was promise," said Wood. "We had 15 strikeouts the last time we played them, tonight we only had 10. We hit the ball better, just not when we needed to. I feel like we beat ourselves. We had some early errors that killed us."
Goshen put its first run on the board in the top of the first inning, as freshman Aimee Swihart led off the game with a double and scored.
The Lady Redskins then added three runs in the third inning.
"That's about as to perfect as we can play," said Hutcherson. "We had a couple errors early, but we stayed focused. I'm very proud of the girls. They played really hard and they were focused."
Junior Cassi Cook hit two doubles for Goshen, while senior Katelynn Flory also hit a double for the Lady Redskins.
Newell pitched all seven innings for Goshen, giving up three hits, striking out 10 and walking none.
She improved her record this season to 18-2.
For Warsaw, senior Sam Snider took the loss after pitching 5-1/3 innings. She gave up six hits and four runs, while striking out seven and walking five.
Senior Kaitlin Gruenewald came on in relief and gave up one hit.
While Wood was disappointed in the loss, she is excited about her team's future.
"We're a young team," said Wood. "We have five seniors, but we have a freshman in the outfield and a freshman at third base. We have young girls, and I'm really excited about their potential. We have a lot of young talent coming in for next year."
GOSHEN 4, WARSAW 0
G 103 000 0 - 4 7 1
W 000 000 0 - 0 3 2
Natalie Newell (W, 18-2) and Aimee Swihart; Sam Snider (L), Kaitlin Gruenewald (6th) and Kelsey Dotson.
2B - Cassie Cook (G) 2, Katelynn Flory (G), Aimee Swihart (G), Kelsey Dotson (W)
Records: Goshen 26-4, Warsaw 14-11
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