March 29, 2000

Prep softball

Fretz, Tornadoes start season strong

SYCAMORE &emdash; Columbian pitcher Anna Fretz retired 14 Mohawk batters in a row and surrendered just two hits as TC opened the season with a 7-0 win over the Warriors.

Columbian scored two runs in the top of the first inning, made it 3-0 with one in the fourth and scored two apiece in the fifth and sixth innings. Fretz struck out four and walked one in picking up the win. Brittany Platt took the loss for Mohawk, and Amy Fox threw two innings of relief. The Warriors fell to 1-1.

"We looked good defensively, and there were some girls like Sara Theis getting their first varsity experience tonight who did very well," Columbian coach Mike Hampp said. "Anna did a tremendous job. She was dominating, and if her and Erin (Rupp) can do that and our defense is good, I hope we'll be a tough team to beat."

Theis, Katie Fazekas and Kaila Dunn led the Columbian offensive charge with two hits apiece. Fazekas had two runs and a double, Dunn scored a pair of runs and Theis had an RBI. Kristin Seitz (run, RBI), Kristin Say and Fretz (run, RBI) also came away with hits, April Vanover scored a run and Nikki Kuhn had two RBI.

Jodi Stevens and Katie Lust singled for Mohawk, which hosts Wynford Thursday.

"We basically played a great game except that we weren't aggressive when we were hitting," Mohawk coach Jenny Weinandy said. "I can't complain about our defense. It's very strong. It's just our hitting that needs improvement. This team graduated a lot of seniors, and we're still trying to bring it all together."

Columbian is at home against Clyde Monday.

Early spurt lifts Upper

UPPER SANDUSKY &emdash; Three runs in the first inning would turn out to be all Upper Sandusky would need in a 6-2 win over New Riegel.

Pitcher Randi Niederkohr stood out for the Rams, tossing a three-hitter. Erin Mack took the loss for the Blue Jackets, striking out two and walking three.

Lindsay Gottfried was 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored for the winners. Leslie Foust had two runs with a hit, and Rachel Roush doubled and scored a run. Jessica Courtad and Marcia Thiel singled, Kelly Wines drew two walks and scored a run, and Johanna Snyder also had a run.

Sara Smith went 2-for-3 with a stolen base to lead NR offensively. Kristen Tiell doubled, scored a run and drove in a run, and Leanne Wertz walked twice, stole a base and scored a run.

New Riegel is home against Cory-Rawson Thursday. Upper is at Old Fort for a Saturday doubleheader.

Chieftains handle BC without seniors

NEW WASHINGTON &emdash; Hopewell-Loudon's seniors were on a class trip, but that didn't stop the players left from winning the season lid-lifter against Buckeye Central, 14-5.

The Chieftains started things with four runs in the top of the first and helped end it with six runs in the sixth inning. The game was called by darkness after the sixth.

Nicole Cleland had a triple as one of her two hits for the winners, also scoring twice and driving in a run, and Abby Taylor added two singles, a run and an RBI. Also getting hits were Elizabeth Hoover (two runs), Holly Thom (three runs, RBI), Ashley Frankart (run, RBI) and Beth Cook (two runs, two RBI). Michelle DeVault scored two runs and Jamie Painter came away with one.

Frankart was the winning pitcher, walking one and striking out one in a complete game effort. Buckeye Central falls to 0-2.

"Our seniors were gone, so it was nice to show some of the girls what varsity softball was like for the first time," Hopewell-Loudon coach Steve Adelsperger said. "It was a good game for a first time out, and I was happy with how Ashley pitched."