By Bruce Dake
The Newberry softball team traveled to Manistique to take on the Emeralds on Wednesday, April 16. This was a welcome relief to practicing in the gym for the last four and a half weeks. Just to be outside and to face competition was a big transition for the season.
Game one was a back-and-forth battle, and the Emeralds won 6-5. Sydney Duflo pitched an excellent game, giving up 7 hits, 2 walks and 2 strike outs. She gave up all 6 runs, with 2 of those runs being unearned. The offense was led by Alazayah Depew with 4 hits, two of them doubles. Allie Whalen, Lilly Heim, Natalie Whalen, and Addie Farmer all collected hits. Sydney Duflo earned 2 walks, while Natalie Whalen, Ivana Kopkova, Ari Cornell, and Matti Krupla all had a walk.
Manistique jumped out early in game two; the Indians fought back, falling just short by an 8-5 score. Libby McAlpine, Alazayah Depew, and Sydney Duflo all pitched giving up 8 walks, getting 5 strike outs. The offense was paced by Sydney with a hit and two walks. Alazayah Depew, Natalie Whalen, Addie Farmer, Maddelynn McNamara, and Matti Krupla all collected hits. Libby McAlpine, Kali Navarro, and Matti Krupla all collected walks.
The coaches were very pleased with the performance and saw a lot to build on and saw some things to improve.