The Newcastle Racers fastpitch softball team is off to a fast start this year with seven dominant victories in a row.
Head Coach Mike Crossley said, “Just as I expected, we are showing a lot of experience. We were already a pretty good ball club, and they are all returning starters.”
Crossley said the team’s job is much easier when the players have that much experience, and they can make adjustments during the game.
“They accept coaching a lot better,” Crossley said. “This group understands they have to be coachable, and understands the ups and downs of the game. We are on pace to have another good ball club.”
Newcastle started the season with a 10-0 win over Little Axe on August 10. They added two more wins against Dibble, 16-6, and Bridge Creek, 9-3 on Friday, August 11. The next week, they handily finished off Perkins-Tryon in a 15-1 Monday game, and then beat Tri City-rival Blanchard, 6-2, on Tuesday, August 15. On Thursday, August 17, they beat Mount Olive High School, 11-1, and then this week on Monday, they beat Harrah, 10-0.
The Racers were scheduled to play Bishop McGuinness Tuesday this week and Tulsa Union at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday to open up the Lincoln Christian Tournament.
“We have a lot of leadership and these girls have had a lot of playing time,” Crossley said. “We are capable of one through nine hitting. If a couple of girls don’t get a hit, there are girls in the lower or middle part of the lineup who will get hits. We send nine girls to the plate who are going to compete. It makes for a fun season.”
Crossley said the Racers have only batted 29 times, but they’ve scored a total of 77 runs.
After Tulsa Union Thursday, they play again at 2:30 p.m. against Tulsa Bishop Kelly. At 5:30 p.m. the Racers play Fairland.
On Friday, Newcastle plays at 10 a.m. against Lincoln Christian, and the outcome of that game determines what time the Racers will play on Saturday.
Pitcher Aubree Ferguson (Breezy) struck out 16 out of the 18 outs during the Monday game this week, but Coach Crossley said the team plays good defense as well, and are swinging the bats well.
