Published: May 11, 2008 12:34 am         

Lady Berries sweep New Castle

Long, Slusher lead Logan in NCC-counted win in game one.

Logansport junior Jaclyn Slusher’s two-run, first-inning double was all the run support senior ace Molly Long needed in the Lady Berries’ 2-1 win over New Castle in the NCC-counted game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Fincher Field.

Sophomore Gabby McIntire followed up Long’s gem with one of her own in Logan’s 4-1 win in game two to complete the sweep.

Although the Berries (16-7, 4-2 in North Central Conference) squandered several other scoring opportunities in game one, Slusher didn’t miss on their first when she pulled a double down the third-base line.

“I knew I had to come up and score those runs,” Slusher said, “so I just beared down and focused, and I got the hit.”

Long fanned eight and held the Lady Trojans (14-8, 4-2) to five hits in the contest.

“I tried to keep them off balance and I felt like the riseball was working a lot,” Long said. “I tried to stay with that most of the time, and they went for it most of the time.”

New Castle coach Jeff Theobald knew going into the game it could be a tough day for his offense.

“We’ve seen Long now for about four years, it seems like 15,” Theobald lamented. “And she just gets better every year. They’re a very good, sound ballclub.”

McIntire, Erin Angle and Lauren Vitello added base hits for Logan in game one.

In game two, McIntire, who like Long is a lefty, windmilled a three-hitter to earn the win.

“Gabby had a great performance,” Logan coach Gary Hoffman said. “That’s the second in a row for her. She does a really nice job.

“She moves the ball around really good.”

Hoffman added McIntire could be the Berries’ ace in waiting as Long graduates this year.

“If she keeps throwing like she has been, yeah,” Hoffman said. “She’s doing a really good job, so hopefully she keeps it up and next year she can step right in Molly’s footsteps and keep it going.”

Angle had two hits in game two and McIntire, Slusher, Darrien Harris and Brianna Brewer all added safeties. Angle, Slusher, Harris and Jenna Pfeiffer each had RBIs.

The Berries are currently in third-place in the NCC standings. Although they no longer have a chance to win the conference title, Hoffman said Saturday’s games were important as he’s trying to get his squad to build momentum and play good softball down the stretch going into the IHSAA Tournament.

“We played really well in games we had to win,” Hoffman said. “It was a good day.”

Although the Berries have lost to every team in their Harrison Sectional field this year, they enter the sectional confident they can win it. They face Class 4A No. 4 McCutcheon in their sectional opener on Monday, May 19.

“I think we’re going to be really tough during sectionals,” Slusher said. “We have a great defense and our bats are starting to pick up now.”

“We’re definitely starting to gel,” Long added.

Logansport hosts Marion on Tuesday for an NCC contest