Published: April 29, 2008 10:06 am         

Redskin softball team clicking

When a high school girls softball team hits the ball solidly, has good fielding, runs the bases correctly and gets strong pitching, those ladies have a good chance of winning.

The Goshen Redskins experienced all that Monday in an 11-1 Northern Lakes Conference win over the NorthWood Panthers at Shanklin Park in Goshen.

The Lady Redskins pounded out 10 hits, including the first career home run by freshman Cassie Cook. She blasted a two-run shot over the center field fence in the fourth inning.

“We worked on our hitting all weekend,” Goshen coach Lee Mast said. “I have felt all along that once we start hitting the ball, we can compete with any team.

“Cook and all of our freshmen have impressed me. She can also pitch and I almost started her, but when it was raining we decided to go with (freshman) Natalie Newell.”

Goshen (5-8, 2-5 NLC) hosts non-league foe John Glenn today and NorthWood (1-11, 1-6) entertains Concord on Wednesday.

Goshen scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Junior Britta Abney walked and Newell followed with a single. Freshman Kaitlyn Troyer’s single scored Abney. Sophomore Katelynn Flory walked to load the bases and a single by junior Kristie Medford scored Newell and Troyer.

“Goshen jumped on us quick,” NorthWood coach Ryan Mattern said. “Our pitcher (senior) Alyssa Bates has struggled early in the count and then has to throw the ball over the middle of the plate. Tonight, she could not throw her change-up for strikes.

“I was a little disappointed in the way our team seemed to roll over when Goshen scored. We were coming off our first conference win against Plymouth so that was disappointing.”

Abney had two singles for Goshen and nine of 11 Redskins who batted had hits. Abney singled home two runs as the Redskins scored six times in the fourth and her single in the fifth scored junior Jenna Toney with the game-ending run.

“I can’t say enough about (assistant coach) Scott Hutcherson when it comes to hitting,” Mast said. “He went to school with Patrick Murphy, the head coach at the University of Alabama. Scott e-mailed him about our struggles at the plate and Murphy gave him some drills to try. So far they are working.”

The Redskin defense made no errors behind the one-hit pitching of Newell. She struck out seven and walked none.

“Natalie (Newell) did a great job, keeping the ball around the plate,” Mast said. “We keep telling her she can’t do it all. She has to get the ball in play and let her defense take care of the plays. Once she gets a little older and stronger, she can dominate games.”

Mattern said, “Newell is a very good freshman pitcher. She can throw her change-up for strikes. She has two or three different pitches. She changes speed and location well.

“I’m not looking forward to facing her seven more times in her career.”

Junior Amy Yoder doubled in the third inning for NorthWood’s hit. She advanced to third and later scored on wild pitches.