MAC has fresh faces, looks for continued success
“We expect to go out and be very competitive despite being an almost entirely fresh squad this year,” MAC Head Coach Jesse Nesper said. “It’s difficult to predict how tough the league’s going to be just yet, but we’re going to go out and play everybody as tough as we can.”
MAC has had 26 players total turn out this year, but All-State player Izzy Evans is the only returning multi-year starter. Still, GG Hawk, Jada Domebo, Kieran Incashola and Amelia Cronk have varsity experience as well.
“When everybody’s healthy, we’ll be in great shape in the circle,” Nesper said. “We’re struggling through some early season injuries that are definitely a limiting factor, but by mid-season we expect to be ready to rock and roll at full strength.”
Nesper added he has been impressed with the attitudes of the girls this early in the season.
“We’re working very hard to make everything we do meaningful and get better every day,” Nesper said. “Everybody on the team is taking that pretty seriously, and I really think that’s going to show as the season progresses.”
Ronan wins pitcher’s duel against Mission-Arlee-Charlo
It may have been an early season softball contest in St. Ignatius, but it was a pitcher’s duel through and through as Ronan’s Nikki Kendall threw a gem in a 4-2 victory for the Maidens on Thursday, March 28.
Kendall allowed just three hits while striking out 14. Opposing her was Mission pitcher Izzy Evans, who struck out 10 while allowing just four hits.
Ronan got on the board in the top of the first, scoring on a Kaydence Sanos single, a dropped third strike, and an Ally Luedtke RBI.
In the fourth inning, Ronan went up 4-0 after Nevaeh Perez singled to center field to bring in a run.
Mission-Arlee Charlo didn’t back down, however, with Alecia Steele scoring on a passed ball and Kason Page crossing the plate on a pitching error. But the inning concluded with a flyout.
GG Hawk, Evans, and Page had hits for MAC, while Kendall, Marengo, Luedtke, and Perez had hits for Ronan.
Ronan improved to 1-1 with the win, while Mission fell to 0-1.
At Mission
RONAN 4, MISSION-ARLEE-CHARLO 2
Ronan - 300 - 100 - 0 - 4 - 4 - 0
MAC- 000 - 002 - 0 - 2 - 3 - 2
RONAN PITCHING - Nikki Kendall (7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 2 runs, 0 earned runs, 6 walks, 14 strikeouts)
MISSION PITCHING - Izzy Evans (7 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 walks)
RONAN HITTING - Nikki Kendall 1-4, Kailyn Marengo 1-3, Kaydence Sanos 0-3, Mira Corum 0-3, Ally Luedtke 1-3, Brynn Courville 0-2, Hanna Lytton 0-2, KaNana Couture 0-1, Adrienne Crockett 0-2, Morgan Simpson 0-1, Ernestine Tapia-Torosian 0-1, Nevaeh Perez 1-2, Bailee Woll 0-0; RBI - Santos, Corum, Luedtke, Perez
MISSION HITTING - GG Hawk 1-3, Maia Christopher 0-4, Evans 1-3, Alecia Steele 0-2, Kason Page 1-3, Avia Lee 0-3, Amelia Cronk 0-2, Kensey Burke 0-1, Maizey McDonald 0-1, 2B – Evans
Ronan's Kailyn Marengo takes aim during last Thursday's game against Mission-Arlee-Charlo. (Christa Umphrey photo)