By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
EDWARDSBURG -- The season opener for the Edwardsburg varsity softball team was a successful one as it swept Cass County and Lakeland Conference rival Cassopolis Monday afternoon.
The Lady Eddies (2-0, 2-0) took the opening game, 5-1, and then won the nightcap, 8-2.
Kelli Kretchman went the distance in the opener tossing a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts and four walks.
Cassopolis scored an unearned run in the fourth inning.
The Lady Eddies scored single runs in the first and sixth innings and three runs in the third.
Edwardsburg finished with seven hits off of Cassopolis' Chaquitta Danzy.
Shana Stoops and Kretchman each had two hits.
In the second game, Jessica Simpson went the distance for the Lady Eddies, also tossing a no-hitter.
Simpson struck out seven and walked four. Cassopolis scored unearned runs in the fifth and seventh innings.
Edwardsburg finished with eight hits, including three by Niki Focht.
Danzy took the loss as she allowed two earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
The Lady Eddies return to action on Friday when they travel to Dowagiac for a non-conference doubleheader.
The first game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Baseball
Host Edwardsburg opened up its Lakeland Conference season Monday afternoon with a sweep of Cass County rival Cassopolis.
The Eddies took the opening game 10-2 and the nightcap, 8-3.
Nathan Peak improved to 3-0 on the season as he worked four innings, allowing two hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Spencer Hardisty took the loss for the Rangers.
The Eddies (7-2, 2-0) finished with eight hits, including a single and a double by Zach Rooney and a double by Monte Ort. Adam Horn added two singles.
Edwardsburg jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning of play and then added one in the second, three in the fourth and two in the fifth to end the game due to the 10-run rule.
In the nightcap, Jeff Mortimer worked three innings to improve to 2-1 on the year. Ort picked up the save. Mortimer allowed one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Ort did not give up a run in three innings of work. He allowed two hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Edwardsburg scored two runs in the first and second innings and then one in the fourth and three in the sixth.
Cassopolis scored all three of its runs in the third inning.
The Eddies finished with seven hits, including a double and a single by Jim Archambault, a double by Peak and two singles by Anthony Peak.
Cassopolis (0-4, 0-2) had six hits, including doubles by Ashton Danzy and John Solloway.
Solloway took the loss for the Rangers.
Tennis
The Cassopolis varsity tennis team was blanked by visiting Berrien Springs on Monday in a Lakeland Conference match.
Playing for the Rangers in their season opener were Gerrit Hemme, Johnny Thammavongsa , Tommy Luangasa and Aaron Brown in singles. Making up the doubles team was Bunlome Noringhang and Teddy Luangasa.
Softball
First game
Cassopolis 000 100 0 -- 1 0 2
Edwardsburg 103 001 x -- 5 7 1
Kelli Kretchman (W, 1-0); Chaquitta Danzy (L)
Second game
Cassopolis 000 010 1 -- 2 0 2
Edwardsburg 232 001 x -- 8 8 2
Jessica Simpson (W, 1-0); Chaquitta Danzy (L)
Baseball
First game
Cassopolis 000 00 -- 0 2 2
Edwardsburg 410 32 -- 10 8 1
Nathan Peak (W, 3-0); Spencer Hardisty (L)
2B: Zach Rooney (E), Monte Ort (E)
Second Game
Cassopolis 003 000 -- 3 6 1
Edwardsburg 220 13 -- 8 7 3
Jeff Mortimer (W, 2-1), Monte Ort (S, 4); John Solloway (L)
2B: Nathan Peak (E), Jim Archabault (E), Ashton Danzy (C), Solloway (C)
Varsity Records: Edwardsburg 7-2, 2-0; Cassopolis 0-4, 0-2
Boys Tennis
Berrien Springs…8
Cassopolis…0
Singles:
1. Andrew Lewis beat Gerrit Hemme 6-3, 6-0; 2. John Yon beat Johnny Thammavongsa 6-3, 6-4; 3. Uram Kim beat Tommy Luangasa 6-0, 6-0; 4. John Bagby beat Aaron Brown 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles:
1. Vaughn Bontrager-Kyle Zandowski beat Bunlome Noringhang-Teddy Luangasa 6-0, 6-3; 2. Berrien Springs won by default; 3. Berrien Springs won by default, 4. Berrien Springs won by default.