Lutheran Northwest picks up another win against a Class A school
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
BERKLEY — By all intents and purposes, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest is down slightly in softball this season. After all, the Crusaders graduated four starters and lost another key player to transfer.
There are several sophomores and freshmen on the roster this season as well.
Still, Northwest has the ability to defeat much bigger schools, and defeated a Class A school for the third time this season Monday with a 10-1 victory over Berkley in an non-conference game.
“We are young. We had to move our first basemen to pitcher because we lost four really good starters,” said Northwest coach Jeff Ludwig. “But we still have some good girls back.”
Senior shortstop Kristen Thompson is one of those players. The three-time all-stater continued to swing the bat with vengeance this season with her average still hovering over the .500 mark. She was 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI and scored twice in the rout of the Bears.
Stephanie Smith, a converted pitcher, picked up the win on the mound and helped the Crusaders move to 8-6 this season. She helped her own cause by going 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Crusaders.
Junior Claire Winter has seen an expanded roll this season and has been coming on as of late. She finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored a run against Berkley.
“She’s really come on strong,” said Ludwig of Winter. “She’s very much improved.
“With Stephanie Smith, we had to move her to pitcher. Last season she was all-state at first base. She won’t get that type of this year, but she’s getting better as a pitcher,” added Ludwig. “We needed for someone to stop in there and she’s done a very good job.”
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester Hills Lutheran NW
