March 18, 2024

New coach guides young Cardinal softball team into 2015 summer season

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Newton High’s Cardinal softball team is going to be ruled by youth in 2015. With four returning starters from last year’s squad, the Cardinals fold in sophomores, freshman and eighth-graders into the varsity squad.

“We’re a young team. All the players are adjusting to a new coaching staff,” said Kristina McNew, Newton’s new head coach. “So far, it has been a positive adjustment.”

McNew was a standout player for Newton High as a catcher and a shortstop. She said her hitting was alright, but she was known for her defensive play.

McNew is a three-time first-team all-conference infielder for William Penn, playing for WP 2003-05. As a third baseman, McNew helped William Penn reach the NAIA national tournament in 2005. She earned NAIA all-region honors in 2005.

McNew played one year at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa before going to William Penn. Her hitting was “good” for William Penn as she is second in career home runs with 31, hitting a career-high 12 in 2004. McNew is second in career RBIs with 135, sixth in career runs scored with 112, tied for ninth in career doubles with 32, and sits fourth on the WP career hits list at 180.

McNew is joined by assistant coaches Steph Langstraat, who played at Central College in Pella, and Brianna Zerley. McNew and Zerley played college softball for William Penn in Oskaloosa.

Back for the Cardinals in 2015 are juniors Sydney Jenkins, Kari Adams, Victoria Jordan, Fran Lucas and Jaci Twaddle and sophomore Bailey Davis. Newton went 8-12 in Little Hawkeye Conference play, placing fifth. The Cardinals were 9-23 overall in 2014.

Newton hits the diamond to open the 2015 season Tuesday at home against Marshalltown.

Aggressive is a key word and concept for McNew. She said she expects her players to be aggressive in all phases of the game — defense, pitching, hitting and running the bases.

“It’s about going 110 percent in whatever you do,” McNew said.

Jenkins was named to the 2014 All-Little Hawkeye Conference first team as a utility/designated hitter. Jenkins was named to the Iowa Girls Coaching Association Class 4A All-Southeast District team for the second year in a row. Adams received all-conference honorable mention.

Jenkins, who played catcher for Newton the past two years, led the Cardinals in most offensive categories. Jenkins earned first-team conference honors two years in a row.

Jenkins had a .979 fielding percentage with only two errors working behind the plate. Jenkins threw out seven runners attempting to steal bases this season.

Jenkins compiled a .481 batting average and a .759 slugging percentage. She connected for 38 singles, 10 doubles and three triples, leading Newton in all three. Jenkins hit two home runs, drove in 25 runs and scored 26 runs. She was 21-for-21 on stolen base attempts.

Adams manned third base for Newton, but missed the last couple of weeks of the season because of illness. Adams was the team’s third-leading hitter with a .246 average. She hit 15 singles, three doubles, one triple and two home runs.

Adams, who also played a few games at shortstop, had 10 sacrifices at the plate. She drove in nine runs and scored 16 runs. Adams earned conference honorable mention for the second year in a row.

Lucas was fourth among NHS hitters for the season a year ago at .233. She drove in three runs and scored 12. She had two doubles and one triple.

Jordan patrolled in the outfield for the Cardinals last season, but did not hit. Davis hit .235 with 16 hits, driving in five runs.

With no retuning pitchers, McNew has tapped eighth-graders Peyton Maher and Anna Coyle as the varsity pitchers. Freshman Kennedy Leiker is working behind the plate while Jenkins has been moved to shortstop. First-year junior Lynae Doland is expected to play at second base also.

Fran Lucas is slated to start at second base with freshman Audrey Lucas at third base and freshman Taylor Ryan at first base. Joining Jordan, Adams and Davis in the outfield are sophomore Lizzy Coyle, and freshman Karley Leiker.

“Our strengths going into the season are defensive play and speed. We’re a young team, but these girls are smart. Most have played softball outside of school softball,” McNew said.

“When I was going through Newton, we didn’t have the traveling teams and other opportunities the girls have now.”

Newton players competed in spring league softball tournaments. McNew couldn’t coach the girls, but she did go and watch them play. She said she was encouraged with what she saw this spring.

“We’re going to have an alumni game and a NHS softball tournament for the first time. We want to encourage fans and alumni to come and get to know our current players,” McNew said.

Alumni Under the Lights is the alumni game on June 12. On June 13 is the Cardinal Invitational softball tournament.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com