After starting last week with back-to-back losses to Cardington-Lincoln, Northmor bounced back with a 14-7 win over Pleasant on April 13, with Maddie Simpson just a homer shy of the cycle.
"Team effort for sure," said Coach Matt Wiseman. "Simpson is starting to come on. She is really good. I moved her back into the lead off spot where she is most comfortable."
Simpson went 3-for-4, where he doubled in the second inning, added a single in the third inning and tripled in the fourth. She knocked in two runs and scored twice, while also drawing a walk.
Kallie Wright also had a solid day at the plate for the Golden Knights, going 3-for-5 with a run scored. Katalina Roseberry went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, two runs and a walk, while Raelyn Fulk tripled, scored and knocked in three runs. Kate Kissling showed a great eye with four walks, while scoring once and walking in a run.
Northmor belted 13 hits and had 10 walks in the win.
"Our approach is getting better and the walks are great, however we still want to be aggressive," Wiseman said.
Shelby Cooper got the win for Northmor, going six and one-third innings, allowing 11 hits, seven runs but five earned, and four walks.
The following Monday, on April 15, Northmor had the tough task of facing Grace Gronberg and the KMAC leading Danville Blue Devils. Gronberg, who has been on a tear in the pitching circle lately, went five innings allowing only three hits and three walks, and no runs, while striking out eight to beat Northmor 6-1.
Danville scored two runs in the third inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Addison Mickley and Jaylen Smith. In the fourth inning, Gronberg smashed a homer to left to go up 3-0. Then in the sixth inning, Abi Sapp made it a five run game when she singled in two runs. Ruby Bartock scored on an error the following play.
With a 6-0 lead, Addy Bocock came in for two innings of relief, and Northmor did get to her for four hits and a run.
Bocock let up a single to Kissling to start the sixth inning, but she was able to shut down the rest of the side with two strikeouts and a line out.
Bocock started out the seventh inning with a strikeout, but then Simpson drove a single to make things interesting. Bocock recorded another strikeout, but Cooper kept Nothmor alive with a single to center. With runners on first and second, Mahaila Strobel drilled a double to left to bring home a run. Bocock ended the game with a strikeout to stop the late attempt by Northmor.
Danville had nine hits in the game, led by Gronberg who went 2-for-4 with a solo homer. Emily Weckesser was 2-for-3 with a double and a run, and Sapp was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Northmor had six singles, led by Cooper’s 2-for-3 day.
Kissling pitched five and one-third innings, allowing six runs with four earned, nine hits and a walk, while striking out one. Cooper pitched an inning and two-thirds with two strikeouts.
Wiseman said the team simply had too many swings and misses against the two tough Danville pitchers. He added that there were some fielding mishaps that led to a few runs, and the score was even closer than it seemed. These are plays the team needs to make to win, he said. He was happy with the team for not quitting and putting runners on base to find a late run.
"Proud of the fight," Wiseman said. "We just have to be better through the whole lineup."
