NorthWood Softball: Rival Raiders Rally Past Panthers
NAPPANEE – NorthWood softball coach Mandy DeMien had the perfect gift picked out for her birthday Friday.
Unfortunately, some timely hitting by Northridge spoiled the celebration.
The Raiders remained in the chase for a conference crown by rallying past the host Panthers 6-3 in a key Northern Lakes Conference contest Friday night.
DeMien, who was a star player at Northridge, had one big item on her wish list as she turned 30.
“I told my girls that all I wanted for my birthday was to beat Northridge,” said DeMien while being serenaded with the singing of Happy Birthday by her players in the postgame. “NorthWood softball has never beaten Northridge. That’s my goal here.”
DeMien helped the Raiders reach the Class 3-A State Finals as a senior back in 2006. The former Mandy Cripe then went on to have an All-American career at then NAIA national power Bethel College, where she played for Anna Welsh along with former Raider teammate Sarah Rassi. DeMien is now in her fifth season at NorthWood and has built the program into a very competitive one.
The Raiders, who beat NorthWood 5-4 on April 24, scored the final five runs Friday to notch the league win at the Callander Sports Complex.
Northridge improves to 11-3 overall and moves to 8-1 in NLC play. The Raiders lone loss was a 3-2 setback to Concord, who remains undefeated in league play.
NorthWood drops to 8-8 overall and goes to 3-6 in conference action.
The Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Speedy freshman leadoff hitter Madison Weinert put down a perfect bunt for a hit and then stole second and third before scoring on an infield single by junior Allison Hostetler.
NorthWood took the lead in the home half of the second frame. The trio of Lili Lomeli, Kennedy Hochstetler and Kylie Hochstetler drew walks to load the bases. Sophomore Grace Anglemyer then crushed a three-run double off the centerfield fence with two outs on a 1-2 pitch to give her team a 3-1 lead.
Northridge scored a single run in the third on an RBI single off the bat of senior Sami Deisler to make it 3-2. The Raiders then plated four runs in the fourth frame with Hostetler providing the big hit with a two-out, two-run double to make it 4-3. Senior Sara Troyer then followed with an RBI doubles and junior Ashley Beckler capped the inning with an RBI single to make it 6-3.
The Raiders, who outhit the Panthers 9-4, took advantage of four walks in the third and fourth innings off losing pitcher Madison Miller. Three of those Raiders who reached via the free pass scored.
“Madison has thrown every inning for us this week and she was a little tight tonight,” said DeMien of her sophomore hurler. “She did not have her best stuff. We need to hit our spots a little better. We’re just giving teams too many good pitches to hit.
“We just are not making the plays and doing the little things. We need to finish innings. We have to get the key hits to get key wins and we are not doing that. Not scoring runs is putting us in a tough spot.”
DeMien saw her team collect just four hits for the second straight game. The Panthers had four in a 5-1 loss to Concord Wednesday night.
Anglemyer did step up and provided a big lift to her team at the dish. The No. 9 hitter for the Panthers produced a pair of doubles.
“I worked with Grace for an hour Thursday on hitting,” noted DeMien, who is 67-56 at NorthWood. “I was confident in her tonight and in the adjustments she would make. We talk a lot about mental toughness and how important it is. I was pleased with the mental toughness that Grace showed tonight.”
Sophomore Gracie Clark and senior Alexis Klotz each had a single for the Panthers, who have just two seniors. Miller took the pitching loss as she went three and two thirds innings. She allowed six runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Clark went the final three and a third innings in the circle, giving up just one hit while striking out two and walking none.
Hostetler twirled the four-hitter for the Raiders as she fanned four and walked five.
The Raiders were 20-9 a year ago and won a Class 4-A sectional championship under coach Roy Caples, who is now in his second season.
.NorthWood plays in the Fremont Invitational Saturday and travels to Wawasee for an NLC game Monday. Northridge hosts Carroll for a doubleheader Saturday and hosts Concord Monday.