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Local basketball player earns trip to Florida
Bruins to rely on four leaders
B. Scott Anderson: Turn on the television and
you might be surprised by what you see
Bruins eke out narrow wins over Lutes
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Upstart Grizzlies stump Tigers |
McMinnville scores 10 runs in the fourth inning
Monday and walks away with a 13-3 victory |
By B. Scott Anderson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
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The Newberg High School
softball team remained winless in Pac-9 Conference play Monday when
it fell 13-3 to 10th-ranked visiting McMinnville.
Led by freshman pitcher Anna Bertrand, McMinnville’s defense
stymied the Newberg hitting attack before she was relieved in the
fifth inning. Bertrand went on to record 10 strikeouts in her four
innings of work.
Johnson characterized McMinnville as a surprise to some of the
league because of Bertrand.
“They were definitely a team that we were looking for a victory
from,” she said. “In the last couple of seasons, it was close game
every time we played them. But they have a freshman pitcher on the
mound who is doing a great job. We didn’t do a whole lot with her on
the mound.”
Newberg started to use bunts to try to reach base and the strategy
started to work. Newberg players started to reach base after the
first three batters in the first inning all struck out.
“I think any time when you can’t hit a pitcher like that who has a
great riseball, we just weren’t getting enough on the ball so we had
to make them at least make a defensive play on us,” Johnson said.
“We’ve got to get the ball in play.”
Meanwhile Newberg (0-5 Pac-9 Conference, 3-8 overall) tallied just
five hits, including a pair of doubles by Lauren Casey and an RBI
double by Nicole Davis.
The Tigers have struggled at the plate nearly the entire season so
far. It’s become frustrating for everyone, Johnson said.
“I think the girls are frustrated at themselves, but we had a talk
after the game, mostly about just picking up the intensity,” she
said. “I think they’re a bunch of nice girls and I don’t think you
can ever be too nice, but they have a good time together. Now we
just need to focus all of our energy and realize that we like to
win, too.”
The Grizzlies (12-2 overall and 5-1 in the Pac-9 Conference)
recorded 12 hits, including six hits in a 10-run fourth inning
barrage.
Newberg is set to host Tualatin today (Wednesday) followed by a
game Friday at Canby. Both opponents are top picks for the league
title year in and year out.
“It’s going to be a big week for Newberg softball,” Johnson
said. “But the thing is that McMinnville kind of came out of nowhere
this season and everybody is changing around a little bit.” |
From
April 19, 2006, Newberg Graphic
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