After going 3-11 last season, Rich Johnson is looking for the Nevis fastpitch softball team to have more success this spring.
The Tigers return four letterwinners in senior Jess Mastrian (shortstop), senior Michelle Flategraff (center field), senior Jessica Luebbert (third base) and junior Jenna Vanatta (first base).
Being counted to fill the other starting spots are senior Holly Lenander (second base), senior Heather Schroeder (right field), senior Kelsey Twetten (left field), junior Tiffany Dennis (outfield), sophomore Elisa Andrus (pitcher), sophomore Jessica Peltier (catcher), sophomore Jessica Roach (pitcher/outfield), freshman Emiliee Edel-man (first base), and eighth-grader Emily Roach (second base/catcher). That group will try to replace last year's seniors: Alice Bolton (pitcher), Sam Potter (catcher) and Ashley Lueck (second base).
"We should have the potential to compete in our conference and subsection," said Johnson, who will be assisted by Heidi Wormley and LouAnn Muhm. "Our goals are always to have fun and improve the skills of our players. We also work to be competitive in each game."
The Tigers opened the season with a 16-1 loss Northland Remer, a 10-2 loss to Laporte and a 12-1 win over Red Lake.
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Against Northland last Monday, Twetten singled and scored on a single by Mastrian in the third inning for Nevis' only run. Luebbert and Edelman singled in the second to account for the Tigers' other hits. Andrus took the loss as Northland scored five times in the second, four times in the fourth and seven times in the fifth.
The Tigers had seven hits in the loss to Laporte last Tuesday.
Mastrian led off the game with a single and scored on singles by Emily Roach and Luebbert.
In the fifth, Emily Roach singled and scored on Luebbert's single.
Mastrian and Emily Roach each went 2 for 4 while Luebbert went 2 for 3 and drove in both runs. Edelman had Nevis' other hit.
Andrus went the distance as Laporte scored three times in the first, once in the third, five times in the fourth and once in the fifth.
Andrus gave up four hits and struck out seven and Mastrian went 4 for 4 with a home run in leading the Tigers past Red Lake Thursday.
A single by Mastrian, a double by Emily Roach and a single by Flategraff gave Nevis a 2-0 lead in the first.
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Singles by Peltier and Andrus set up Mastrian's home run. Emily Roach singled and scored on Flategraff's single as Nevis led 6-0 in the second.
A walk to Luebbert, singles by Peltier and Jessica Roach, a double by Andrus and a single by Mastrian led to three more runs in the third as the Tigers held a 9-1 lead.
Nevis ended this game via the 10-run rule by scoring four more times in the fourth. Flategraff walked and Luebbert doubled. With two outs, a single by Jessica Roach, a walk to Andrus and an RBI single by Mastrian ended the scoring.
Emily Roach, Flategraff, Peltier, Jessica Roach and Andrus all had two hits as the Tigers finished with 15 hits.
