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Rapid River Softball Opens Season With DH Sweep
 RAPID RIVER---The Rapid River Rockets opened the 2016 softball season Monday with a doubleheader sweep of the Stephenson Eagles, 11-1 and 15-0, under cold, windy conditions in Rapid River. Both games ended on the mercy rule. The games were not competitive on the scoreboard, but Rapid River Coach George Kanyuh was happy to get on the field, and to get as many girls into the action as possible.  And that's what they did, ending the first game in five innings and the nightcap in four. In the opener, Erika Schwartz pitched the first two innings, allowing no runs or hits and striking out five batters. Rhiley Hubert pitched the final three innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out six batters. Offensively, Dominique Pavlat had two doubles and scored two runs in Game One. In the second game, Hannah Kanyuh threw four innings, allowing two hits and striking out five batters. Pavlat and Kanyuh both had two hits and scored twice in that contest. Stephenson Coach Jim Bob Rice says his team has a lot to work on this season. "We are very young as a softball team, and as you know, in fastpitch softball, you need pitching," Rice said. "Right now, that's not our strong point. We just want to get better every game, and get ready for districts. That's our main goal. Get better every game, and see how things go at the end of the season."  "There's some potential here to have some fun with these guys and get things honed in," he said. "We have a ways to go before we're there yet, though. I like the potential, though. If the coaches get their jobs done, and the players do too, I like to think we'll have some success." Stephenson is counting on some very young girls to grow up fast this spring. "Autumn Rasner is a freshman, good basketball player, and is one of our better athletes," Rice said. "Nadia Nayman is our pitcher, and she's getting better every game. Again, were young. Mostly freshmen and sophomores, so we're gonna take our lumps." For Rapid River, this is a busy week, with doubleheaders also scheduled on Tuesday on the road in Manistique, and then two more games at home on Wednesday against Munising. And then on Friday, a very long trip to a tournament in downstate Onsted. "I didn't want to go down there with that being our first games of the year the way the weather was going," Kanyuh said. "I'm glad to get a few in this week, and hopefully, we get a few chinks worked out before we get there." The Rapid River junior varsity team lost two games to the Escanaba JV's on Monday. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos from Monday afternoon's games.  |
| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
4/27 |
4:00 PM |
Escanaba Eskymos
|
0 - 4 (L)
|
7-3
|
4/27 |
6:00 PM |
Escanaba Eskymos
|
0 - 10 (L)
|
7-4
|
5/10 |
4:00 PM |
at Gladstone Braves
|
3 - 5 (L)
|
|
5/10 |
6:00 PM |
at Gladstone Braves
|
0 - 14 (L)
|
|
5/13 |
4:00 PM |
Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils
|
12 - 4 (W)
|
|
5/14 |
9:30 AM |
at Escanaba Eskymos
|
6 - 1 (W)
|
|
5/14 |
11:30 AM |
Neenah, Wis.
|
5 - 4 (W)
|
|
5/14 |
3:30 PM |
Marquette Redmen
|
0 - 7 (L)
|
|
5/18 |
4:00 PM |
Marquette Redmen
|
6 - 2 (W)
|
|
5/18 |
6:00 PM |
Marquette Redmen
|
7 - 0 (W)
|
|
5/31 |
5:00 PM |
Superior Central Cougars
|
11 - 0 (W)
|
|
6/3 |
11:00 AM |
Ishpeming Hematites
|
10 - 2 (W)
|
|
6/3 |
1:00 PM |
at Newberry Indians
|
1 - 2 (L)
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