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Bruins stumble against Panthers, lose three
games
Core group to lead Tigers, coach says
Four Bruins earn honors from Northwest
Conference
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Tigers can't get past Forest Grove |
Newberg doesn't have a base runner after the first
inning and falls Thursday on the road |
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
scored two runs in the first inning, but couldn’t muster any more
offense and suffered a 4-2 loss Monday at Forest Grove.
In the first inning, Brittany Hopp bunted to get on base for the
Tigers (2-11, 4-19) before she stole second. After a sacrifice by
Jessie Banton, Carrie Maerz delivered an RBI triple to give the
Tigers a 1-0 lead. Casey Bearden followed with an RBI single to left
field to put Newberg ahead 2-0.
Forest Grove (7-6, 12-10) took advantage of two Newberg errors in
the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 2-1 before a sacrifice in
the second inning by Forest Grove’s Emma Gronseth tied the game 2-2.
The
Vikings took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth when they
scored on a fielder’s choice and an RBI single. That was all the run
production the Vikings needed to secure the win.
Newberg had three hits — all in the first inning off Gronseth. The
Vikings had six hits in the game off Bearden. Newberg had five
errors in the loss.
“Forest Grove is a good hitting team, but we need to produce with
the sticks ourselves,” Newberg coach Kelly Johnson said. “I think
(Bearden) threw a great game, though, and did a nice job.”
Newberg defeated Forest Grove 5-3 on the road April 13, but
couldn’t produce the same results again.
“It would have been nice to win again and nice to have a 2-0 lead,
but they did the right thing,” Johnson said. “They didn’t have one
big inning and just scored one by one and caught up and passed us.”
Newberg came into the game off a 1-0 loss Friday at home against
McMinnville in a game that saw both teams’ pitchers throw
no-hitters. McMinnville pitcher Anna Bertrand had 17 strikeouts and
didn’t allow a hit; Bearden struck out seven and also didn’t allow a
hit. McMinnville’s lone run came in the third inning when a runner
got on via a Newberg error, then another Newberg error allowed the
run.
“It was a great game and she did a really nice job,” Johnson said
of Bearden.
Johnson said she likes the way the Tigers matchup and play against
the Grizzlies, the No. 4-ranked team in the state and the Pacific
Conference champion. Newberg also suffered a 4-1 and 6-1 loss to the
Grizzlies (13-0 Pacific, 22-2 overall) earlier this season.
“We’ve got to put the ball in play to make their defense do
something,” Johnson said. “If we put the ball in play, there’s no
telling what could happen. We were aggressive, though, but
(Bertrand) just caught us with her rise ball.”
The Tigers return to action today (Wednesday) with their last home
game of the season, a 5 p.m. game against Tualatin. The Tigers close
out their season 5 p.m. Friday at Tigard. |
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From
May 9, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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