Indians softball team returns key players

A two-game sweep of Blissfield was how Tecumseh’s varsity softball team opened its season on Tuesday, March 31.The Indians defeated the Royals 15-2 in just six innings in the first game of the season and followed with a 13-8 victory in game two.Tecumseh’s head coach Jeff Nowak went with his returning ace pitcher, junior Kayla Wild, in the opener. She pitched the entire game, striking out six, walking two, and allowing four hits.“Kayla Wild had a very good game for her first start,” said coach Nowak. “It is still early, and we will need her to continue to get better, but I was very pleased with her performance.”At the plate, the Indians were led by Morgan Skelton and Tyffani Bryan with two doubles and three hits each.Grace Maves was brought up from the junior varsity roster to pitch the second game and she went the entire distance for the win. She struck out two, walked five and allowed 10 hits.Tecumseh’s offense was led by Danielle Nowak (2 doubles), Bryan (1 HR, 1 double) and Claire Burnett with each recording three hits.“I was very pleased with the girls approach at the plate today,” said coach Nowak. “We had a few bad cuts here and there, but for the first time outside, I was very pleased with how we handled the game situations offensively and defensively.”Several key players return from Tecumseh’s regional advancing squad from last year including Wild, who is coming off the winter season as the state runner-up in Division 2 bowling.Wild helped Tecumseh advance to the D2 state quarterfinals but the Indians lost by just one run to Stevenson Lakeshore, the eventual state champions.Coach Nowak also returns four other key starters, senior Claire Burnett, juniors Bryan and Maggie Foss and sophomore Danielle Nowak.Burnett was moved from second base to the shortstop position while Bryan will remain at third base. Foss will move from left field to center while Danielle Nowak will be behind the plate as catcher and also move to the infield or pitching positions when needed. “Then we have a nice mix of other seniors, juniors and sophomores that are really going to compete for some other spots,” the coach said. “And we haven’t really figured out how that’s going to look yet. It’s going to take a few games.”The Indians don’t have the depth that they enjoyed the previous two seasons the coach said, but added hat “It’s a solid group with a lot of talent.”Due to being “young” at spots, coach Nowak said it was hard for him to gauge just how successful this year’s team will be.“But, we’re going to be strong again,” he said to clarify. “I think we’re probably even faster than last year. We’re going to have a lot of speed on the bases. Our defense will be solid again. Kayla Wild’s going to be solid on the mound. We’re going to be good.”Hailey Wright (IF/OF) and Vickie Martinez (OF/3B) are the other two seniors on the team.Tecumseh (2-0) plays at Chelsea on Monday, April 13, in an Southeastern Conference contest.

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