Crowning a champion: Norway claims softball title with 4-3 win
Niagara catcher Emma Broullire (11) gets ready to catch a pitch from Badger starter Abigail Wells, striking out Norway’s Anna Falk (21) during Thursday’s Senior-Junior (ages 13-16) Little League Softball interleague championship game at Lodal Park. Wells fanned 10 but also took the 4-3 loss. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)
Norway’s Myah Gilroy (5) gets a throw a tad too late, as Badger slugger Abby Rugg (5) crosses first base in time to collect an infield single in Thursday’s title game. (Dennis Mansfield/ Daily News photo)
Norway starting pitcher Jolie Seidel gets ready to fire to first base after picking up a ground ball during the interleague softball championship game Thursday. Seidel was dominant on the mound, giving up just six hits and striking out 16 Niagara batters. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)
Niagara catcher Emma Broullire (11) gets ready to catch a pitch from Badger starter Abigail Wells, striking out Norway’s Anna Falk (21) during Thursday’s Senior-Junior (ages 13-16) Little League Softball interleague championship game at Lodal Park. Wells fanned 10 but also took the 4-3 loss. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)
Norway’s Myah Gilroy (5) gets a throw a tad too late, as Badger slugger Abby Rugg (5) crosses first base in time to collect an infield single in Thursday’s title game. (Dennis Mansfield/ Daily News photo)
Norway starting pitcher Jolie Seidel gets ready to fire to first base after picking up a ground ball during the interleague softball championship game Thursday. Seidel was dominant on the mound, giving up just six hits and striking out 16 Niagara batters. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)
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KINGSFORD -- Norway's Coleman Engineering ended an impressive season on a winning note Thursday afternoon, beating the Niagara Badgers 4-3 to claim the Senior-Junior (ages 13-16) Little League Softball interleague championship at Lodal Park.
For the Norway squad, the victory was a great way to cap a 15-1 season.
"I asked them to play with confidence in our pregame meeting and they did just that," said Norway coach Sara Seidel.
At first, it seemed as though the game would be dominated by the two starting pitchers -- Norway's Jolie Seidel and Niagara's Abigail Wells. Both pitched complete games, with Seidel fanning 16 batters. Wells was also in double digits.
"Wells pitched a gem as she only walked two batters and fanned 10 Norway batters," said Badgers coach Joe Champeau. "We had five errors at costly times that unfortunately had a huge impact on the outcome of the game."
The opposing hurlers also had an impact offensively.
Jolie Seidel had two hits for Norway, including a single and a triple. Teammate Anna DeBidart also had a pair of hits with a double and a single.
"(Jolie) started our offensive advance in the fourth and Anna drove her home," Coach Seidel said. "Then Anna got home with a hit from Anna Falk.
"Defensively it was a team effort," she added. "Almost every girl had a hand in creating an out or holding the runners."
Leading the way for the Badgers (11-4) offensively was Aiva Champeau, who to go 2 for 3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Wells had a hit and scored, with Olivia Kleikamp crossing home for Niagara's other run.
Emma Broullire, Elesia Sweig and Abby Rugg each had a single for Niagara.
"As a team we managed to generate six hits off the Norway pitcher," Coach Champeau said. "Both teams were very deserving of the victory tonight. We just came up a little short.
"Norway's pitcher is going to be a force in high school. I look forward to playing against her next year at the high school level," he added. "Congratulations, Norway."