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MOUNT PLEASANT – The Central Michigan softball team stuck with the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars through four innings, but ultimately fell, 5-0, to the pro team in a Friday afternoon exhibition at Central Michigan’s Margo Jonker Stadium.
“I thought our team performed fairly well,” head coach Margo Jonker said. “We had a few errors I didn’t want to see, but I thought Dornbos pitched great, especially through four, and then they started hitting a little bit. Sexauer had a few excellent plays for us at short, and overall I thought we played pretty well.”
A crowd of 318 gathered at the stadium for the opportunity to watch the All-Star players from the four NPF clubs – the USSSA Pride, the Chicago Bandits, the Akron Racers and the Carolina Diamonds – take on the Chippewas, who ultimately recorded four hits and saw strong defensive and pitching efforts.
Senior pitcher Kara Dornbos, with the help of stellar defensive efforts by sophomore shortstop CarolAnn Sexauer, held the All-Star offense at bay through the first four innings, allowing only one run on six hits, but the fifth inning proved to be the game changer with the NPF squad putting four runs on the board.
The Chicago Bandits’ Tammy Williams singled with the bases loaded in the fifth to bring in the Carolina Diamonds’ Angeline Quiocho, giving NPF a 2-0 lead. The Diamonds’ GiOnna DiSalvatore doubled to bring home the USSSA Pride’s Ashley Charters and the Akron Racers’ Aja Paculba for a 4-0 lead. The All-Stars tacked on one final run with a single by the Pride’s Charlotte Morgan to score Williams for a 5-0 lead.
Dornbos went 4.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out one and walking one.
Senior Brogan Darwin, junior Raechel Zahrn, sophomore Trista Cox and freshman Evelyn Lorimer each recorded hits for the Chippewas.
Junior Chelsea Sundberg pitched in relief for Dornbos, not allowing a run in 2.2 innings while striking out two and walking two.
This weekend is the third in a row the Chippewas have played exhibitions as part of their fall schedule.
“Overall, in the fall season, I’ve been happy with the team,” Jonker said. “We’ve played with a lot of heart and passion, and we just need to gain the consistency. Once we figure out the consistency I think we’ll be in great shape. I’m very excited for the potential this team has.”
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), headquartered in Osceola County, Florida, USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!