GREENVILLE – Greenville made the most of limited offense and a strong showing on the mound from a freshman, as Drew Newland earned the win in his first varsity start to lead the Green Wave to a 3-2 Miami Valley League victory over the Stebbins Indians.
Newland, unfazed by early pressure, settled in after a challenging first inning and delivered a poised performance that impressed his coach and teammates alike.
“Drew has a deceptive delivery, a lot of arms and legs coming at you, but he has a great stride towards the plate, so it gets on you a little bit quicker,” said Greenville coach Chad Henry. “He has the ability to throw two pitches for strikes… he trusts his stuff. The guy throws strikes and challenges them.”
Stebbins struck first at the top of the opening inning, using a double, a bunt single, and a groundout to take a 1-0 lead. The situation could have unraveled for a young pitcher, but Newland regrouped and limited the damage before settling into a rhythm.
“He came out and challenged… but he came back and answered, he fought,” Henry said. “One run through five innings, just an incredible start for a freshman.”
After being held scoreless through the first two innings, Greenville responded in the bottom of the third. JiJi Jim worked a leadoff walk and came around to score on a two-out RBI double by Isaac Kerg to tie the game at 1-1.
Newland continued to deal, striking out the side in the fourth inning to keep the Indians off balance.
The Wave took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Michael Fox reached on a walk, moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Ethan Jones, and scored on a clutch RBI double from Braylon Byers to make it 2-1.
Stebbins threatened in the fifth, putting runners on base, but Newland worked out of the jam with a groundout and strikeout to preserve the lead.
Greenville added an important insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Chilly Jasenski ripped a double to left and later scored on a heads-up play by Kerg, who reached on a dropped third strike and hustled to first, allowing Jasenski to cross the plate for a 3-1 advantage.
“It’s an overlooked thing… but that is what got us that run,” Henry said of Kerg’s awareness. “Just doing things right, and that is what is helping this team.”
Henry turned to Jasenski in relief in the sixth, moving Newland to shortstop as part of an early-season pitching management strategy.
Stebbins made one final push, scoring a run in the sixth and putting the tying run in scoring position in the seventh. But Greenville’s defense came through in the clutch, highlighted by a game-ending catch from Layden Wion at third base near the dugout fence.
Newland earned the win, tossing five innings of four-hit ball, allowing just one earned run while striking out nine and walking three. Jasenski picked up the save, working the final two innings.
Newland, the son of longtime Lady Wave Hall of Fame softball coach Jerrod Newland, turned in an impressive performance on the mound and at shortstop, throwing 87 pitches with 52 strikes. The outing carried extra significance for Coach Newland, who missed his first Lady Wave softball game in 25 years to watch his son make his first varsity start on the mound.
“I wasn’t going to miss his first start,” said Coach Newland. “Those are the decisions I have to make, and obviously, the first time in the last 25 years, I didn’t want to miss his first start, especially here at the new field for him to take the mound tonight, get his first start, get his first win – I didn’t want to miss it.”
At the plate, Greenville managed just four hits, but made them count. Byers and Jasenski each doubled, while Kerg and Jones added singles.
Henry credited his young squad’s resilience in tight situations.
“A one-run game… there were a lot of big plays, a lot of stressful situations, but guys answered the call,” he said. “The guys played awesome.”
With several players gaining their first varsity experience, Henry knows the growth process is ongoing but promising.
“We have six starters out there… cutting their teeth for the first time at the varsity level,” Henry said. “We got punched in the mouth many times but we always come back… and it’s incredible to be a part of.”
For Newland, it was a debut to remember—one that helped power Greenville to a hard-fought league win and showed the potential of the Wave’s next generation.
BOX SCORE:
123 456 7 R H E
100 001 0 2 8 1 Stebbins
001 110 X 3 4 0 Greenville
