By RYAN STIEG

Journal Sports Writer

MARQUETTE – After starting Friday afternoon, the Spring Swing softball meet got fully under way Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette

In addition to Marquette and Negaunee, Ishpeming and Westwood prep girls softball teams also took part in the meet.

The Hematites have a good pitching staff this season and that will probably be their biggest asset going into the season.

“Our pitching staff is definitely our strongest point,” Ishpeming head coach Ben McGuire said.

“With Sinead (Korvela) and Emma (Bleau), I basically have two No. 1 pitchers.

“Sinead is also one of our best hitters. We’ve got some speed this year, so we’ll be playing some small ball.

“Overall, I’m very excited,” he added. “I think our pitching is going to carry us until we get everything in order.

“We don’t play (again) until April 25, so we have a whole month to bring everything together. I think we are strong enough to challenge for the (Mid-Peninsula) conference title and the district title, so I’m very happy with where we are at.”

Rival Westwood earned a win over Superior Central Saturday morning after a loss to Kingsford on Friday. Patriots head coach Libby Nelson has a young squad this year and isn’t quite sure what to make of it yet. However, she has liked what she has seen so far.

“It’s too early yet to know what kind of team we are,” she said. “We graduated eight seniors, so we’re very much a young team. We only have three or four girls that are returning with substantial playing time.

“I’m pleasantly surprised, though, with what I’ve seen this first week, so I think we’ll be scrappy when we get a little experience.

“There’s also a lot of enthusiasm with the freshmen class,” she added. “They’re coming in really excited to play.

“This weekend is a good opportunity to get them some experience and get them in the deep end.”

Newberry got off to a solid start at the Dome as it defeated Ishpeming 4-3 Friday and started pounding the ball early against Westwood Saturday afternoon with Taylor Bryant cranking a solo homer.

Indians head coach Bruce Dake says his team can hit the ball hard and that they’re going to be a big player this season.

“I think we’re pretty strong this year,” he said. “We’ve got a senior pitcher in Kelsey Huffman who has got some experience and (Friday) night she had 17 strikeouts.

“We’re definitely more of a power-hitting team. We do have some speed sprinkled in, but we have a lot of power. Kelsey and Taylor, along with Bridget (Stoetzer) and Sara Cameron, are our best hitters.

“Several of the girls have improved tremendously and I think we can contend in our conference and the district,” he added. “We’re spread out well and our freshmen class is very good.”

Superior Central also came over from Alger County to the dome. Although the Cougars lost their first couple of games, head coach Richard Swajanen is feeling good about the coming season.

“We’ve got a bunch of good hitters,” he said. “We’ve just got good hitters up and down the line.

“Tori Tyner is a good hitter. Karlie Tyner and Brittany Salmi have hit home runs so far and Brittany is also our top pitcher.

“We’ve also got a lot of young girls this year, but they’re promising.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.