Defense comes up huge as team notches first ever District title Story and photos by Tara Hefferan Newaygo Lions Girls Soccer has made history, winning the district title for the first time, following a 1-0 victory over the Orchard View Cardinals. Playing in front of a full stadium in Montague on Friday night, the Lions brought intensity and focus, deploying their signature combination passing to maintain ball possession and outmaneuver the Cardinals. The first minutes of the match started a bit shaky for the Lions, with the Cardinals controlling play and sending a number of volleys toward the Lion net. Keeper Barbara Toth was prepared, snagging two early shots fired on goal by Orchard View’s Nazalia Mendiola, while also patrolling the edges of the 18-yard box, scooping up balls before they turned dangerous. Outside backs Bella Welch and Maddie Couch, led by center back Sofia Briggs, also contained the Orchard View attack. The three defenders used speed and technique to keep Orchard View out wide, cutting off promising shooting angles, then dispossessing to initiate counterattacks. The game shifted when, with just three minutes left in the first half, Jaxi Long sent a crisp pass to Grace Painter, who went one versus one against Orchard View keeper Elizabeth Estelle. With calm precision, Painter slotted the ball into the lower corner of the net, just out of Estelle’s reach. The Lions entered halftime with the 1-0 lead. Coming back from the break, the Lions were energized, putting eight shots against Orchard View versus the Cardinals three. One of those Cardinal shots, however, was nearly a goal, fired with force at close range. Keeper Toth went low, punching the ball away from the net, and Briggs raced in to clear the ball up the field. The final minutes of the match were intense, as Orchard View recognized their chances for a win were slipping away. With frenzied energy, the Cardinals battled hard, but in the end could not get past the Lion defense of Briggs, Welch, and Couch. As the announcer counted down the final ten seconds of the game, the fans began cheering in collective celebration, and at the buzzer, the Lions erupted into hugs and happy tears as Newaygo Soccer claimed the District 47 title. Coach Painter said, “My favorite memory from last night came just as the final whistle blew. The looks on ALL of the girls’ faces was a combination of pure joy and pride. This is a special group of girls that I feel privileged to be able to coach.” In post-game analysis, Coach Painter said, “One of the things I have loved about this group of girls is that they just show up for each game as if it is just as important as any other game. Last night was no different! They played hard last night against an aggressive, tough OV squad. I was so proud of how our girls stayed true to our team values and were never rattled by hard hits or calls they disagreed with. They just played Newaygo style soccer!” Indeed, the match highlighted Newaygo’s distinct playing style. The Lions have a strong possession-oriented passing game and are able to build their attack from the back, with Sofia Briggs, Lynnea Briones, Connelly Hefferan Nordlund, and Jaxi Long controlling the central parts of the field. From the center, they are able to push the ball out wide to stretch their opponents, opening space for Natalie Richardson and Grace Painter to use their speed and aggressive attack to get in front of net. Newaygo’s outside defense of Maddie Couch and Bella Welch are likewise speedy and aggressive, adept at reversing the attack up the sides of the field. Belen Torres, Chloe Bush, and Aby Lauryssens on the outside of the midfield serve as important links between the offensive and defensive lines. When shots do make their way through, keeper Barbara Toth is ready to stop them, registering 11 shutouts this season. Coach Painter, “Early this season we had the girls write down a couple different types of goals. Two things came up regularly: winning the conference and winning districts. We were so close to the conference title, falling just short after a great game with Big Rapids! Then we moved on to districts. I had talked with a couple of the past soccer coaches for Newaygo and neither of them could remember a district championship for girls soccer. So we dug deeper and realized that Newaygo had never won a district trophy. Regardless of what happens next week in Regionals, I believe our girls have exceeded the expectations of most people except what they believed they could do together as a team! I am so proud of every single one of them!” Lion pride was a theme the players expressed post-game too. Sofia Briggs said, “I’m really proud of everyone and the support. It really means a lot.” Bella Welch said, “Winning districts feels pretty good because we did it as a team, and we worked really hard to get here.” Jaxi Long said, “I love winning with my friends, and we get to play next week, which is exciting.”
The Lions play again next Tuesday, June 7 at 5:30 in the regional semifinals against Elk Rapids in Big Rapids.
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Team faces MCC in Regional Semi Wednesday
Photos by Bobbie Cruzan N3 Sports- We’ve written before about the turnaround accomplished by the White Cloud baseballers this season. Coach Mahn’s team seemed to suddenly jell about halfway through what was looking to be a season of struggles. With many underclassmen in starting roles the lack of experience seemed to be taking it’s toll before a seemingly simultaneous improvement on defense, in the batter’s box, and on the mound. Friday found them in a game for the District Title and a trip to Regionals. And man, did they ever respond. Here’s Coach Mahn’s take on the game. White Cloud 18 Mason County Eastern 0 The Indians lost the flip of the coin, and started the game batting as the visitors and did we ever start off fast. Leading off the first inning, KJ Strait ripped a long double over the left fielder's head, Alex Cruzan followed with a hard single, then Landyn McGowen hit an RBI single for a first inning lead of 1-0. Taylor Bode started on the hill for the Indians, and gave up a lone single in the 1st inning. The Indians were shut down in order in the 2nd inning, as Bode also set down all 3 batters in the 2nd for MCE. With the Indians coming up to bat in the 3rd inning, their bats came alive, after a lead off strike out, Zane Kukal got on by an error, Alex Cruzan laced another single, Bode walked, Mason Cruzan double to right field to drive in 2 runs, Christian Ringler singled in another run, then Jacob Francis singled up the middle to plate the last run of the inning. White Cloud now had a 6-0 lead. Bode struck out the first batter to start the 3rd inning, but then struggled to find the strike zone, by walking the next 2 batters. Coach Mahn, with a quick hook replaced Bode with Mason Cruzan, after a pitch in the dirt temporarily eluded Bode, the runner attempted to advance to 3rd base but was promptly thrown out by Bode to Landyn McGowen at 3rd base. Cruzan then retired the side with a groundout back to himself. The 4th inning started for the Indians with a strikeout, but Strait started the offense, with a ringing double, Alex Cruzan walked, then McGowen hit a rocket shot way over the center fielders head for a 2 run double, after another strike out, Mason Cruzan finished the hit parade with another single. The Indians lead was now 9-0. Mason Cruzan enticed a leadoff grounder back to himself for the 1st out of the 4th inning. The next batter hit a single to right field but was promptly thrown out by Bode attempting to steal 2nd base. A ground ball to Strait at 1st base ended the inning. The 5th inning was started with a base hit by Jacob Francis, followed by a walk to Jayson Ruether, then a hit by Kukal, a fly out by Strait, Alex Cruzan was hit by a pitch (for the 15th time) an RBI walk for McGowen, a 2 run single by Bode, a walk to Mason Cruzan, a 2 run single by Ringler, a hit by pitch to Francis, an RBI walk by Kukal, then a 2 run double by Strait, for an 18-0 lead. Mason Cruzan set the Cardinals down in order in the 5th inning finishing with 2 consecutive strikeouts. Leading the team offensively were KJ Strait with 3 hits - all doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBI's, Alex Cruzan with 3 runs scored and 2 hits, Landyn McGowen with 2 runs, 2 hits (double) with 4 RBI's, Mason Cruzan with 2 hits, 2 Runs, and 4 RBI's, Christian Ringler with 2 hits, 2 runs, and 3 RBI's, and Jacob Francis with 2 Runs and 2 hits. The Indians will travel to Holton Wednesday for a Regional Semi-Final matchup with the Crusaders of Muskegon Catholic Central. First pitch scheduled for 4:15pm. Spring Tourney Season continues as local baseball and softball teams prepare to go at it for the chance to move onto Regional play.
Here are the District pairings Baseball D2 at Fremont Saturday semis Grant vs. Alma 10am Newaygo v. Tri County 12pm Finals 2pm D4 at Mason County Eastern Final White Cloud v. MCE 6pm. Softball D4 at Holton Friday White Cloud v Pentwater 2pm Mason County Eastern v. Holton 4pm Finals 6pm D2 at Whitehall Saturday Grant v. Whitehall 10am Tri County v. Ludington 12pm Finals 2pm D3 At Montague Saturday Ravenna v. North Muskegon 10am Newaygo v. Montage 12pm Final 2pm Story and photos by Tara Hefferan Newaygo Lions soccer is advancing to the District 47 Championship following a 3-2 win over the Oakridge Eagles on Wednesday night. In a competitive match, the Lions had to battle back from a one goal deficit twice in order to secure the win. As Lion sophomore forward Natalie Richardson commented, “It was very difficult. They wanted to win as well, so they pushed us to our limit. They gave us a lot of competition.” In the seventh minute of the match, Oakridge’s Saidee Raap won the first goal, dancing past the Lion defense to pass the ball into the back of the net. Moments later, Grace Painter evened the score, with an assist from Connelly Hefferan Nordlund. Within a two minute span, the game went from zeroes to 1-1. The tie lasted barely a minute, however, before Amaya Anderson scored for Oakridge, putting the Lions down one goal again. The Lions and Eagles battled back and forth, until the fifteenth minute, when Hefferan Nordlund sent the ball to Natalie Richardson, who dribbled past the Oakridge defense to net the first goal of her high school career. Richardson said of her goal, “Yes, it’s so great! It feels amazing, especially because I dribbled it in, so that was even better. I’m so excited!” Newaygo shot another ten times before the half, while Oakridge sent six balls toward goal. The score was 2-2 at halftime. The second half started with more back and forth, as both teams possessed the ball and fired off some shots. The momentum shifted, however, when with thirty minutes left, Jaxi Long found Painter, who fired in her second goal of the night. The Lions were ahead for the first time and would keep the lead for the remainder of the match. The Lions shot the ball another eleven times compared to Oakridge’s five shots. The match ended in a 3-2 victory for Newaygo. In post-game analysis, Lion Keeper Barbara Toth said “I think Oakridge came out stronger, but we pulled away in the second half around possession. We played well in the second half. It was a hard game because most of our exchange students left, so we had very few subs. Some of our girls had to play through that and some of our girls got injured tonight, and so they also had to play through that. Overall, I think we played really well. We came out on top, and I’m very proud of the girls.”
Newaygo plays Orchard View in the District 47 Championship this Friday at 5:00 PM in Montague. |
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