Dutch face off with Newton in a league softball game decided in 14 innings

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June 26, 2009

By Perry Bell

Pella’s second extra inning softball game of the week, didn’t end up as well as the first.

The Lady Dutch dropped a 14-inning 4-2 decision to the Newton Cardinals June 18 in a league game hosted by Pella.

Sophomore pitcher Mandy DeMeulenaere suffered the loss despite allowing just 10 hits in 14 innings. She fanned 11, walked one and only two of the four runs were earned.

Pella committed nine errors in the contest, three of them came in the fifth and the Cardinals took advantage by scoring two earned runs.

“Although the defense wasn’t as sharp as usual, the team came up with some outstanding plays throughout the game, to give us a chance,” stated Pella Head Coach Krista DeMeulenaere.

After a slow hitting night against Norwalk, the bats were alive and well against Newton.

Whitney Pavlat was 3-for-5 with an RBI single in the first to score Lisa Houser.

Rachel Greving added an RBI single in the third to put the Dutch up 2-0 as pinch-runner Lindsay Mueller scored.

Whitney Williams and DeMeulenaere were both 2-of-5 at the plate.

Newton scored the winning run in the top of the 14th on a leadoff single and a home run over the left field fence by catcher Caitlyn Meyer.

Despite the loss, Coach DeMeulenaere said the Dutch are playing great ball all the way around the field.