NL girls back in action after negative test

NEW LONDON - The New London softball team received some good news on Friday as a COVID-19 test returned negative for an unnamed player who was recently in close contact with a student who came down with the virus. That allowed the rest of the New London squad to continue their season later that night where they were defeated 8-2 at home by Sigourney.

In a joint statement by Superintendent Chad Wahls and Athletic Director Ben Fry, the school announced that it received news of the negative test. The school maintained contact with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union through the COVID scare and will be taking proper precautions even with the negative test.

The school says there is no 'one size fits all” policy that a school district can adopt and put into place to stop the virus, but urged the community to continue taking preventive measures to control the spread.

New London and Sigourney decided it was safe to play ball on Friday, many hours after the negative test came back. The game was a low-scoring grinder until the top of the seventh inning when the Savages exploded for five runs to crank up their lead from 3-2 to 8-2. The Tiger offense was unable to respond.

Marah Hartwick went 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead the squad. Claire Jones went 0-for-1 with an RBI. Layney Loyd was 1-for-3 with a double, and Ashlyn McSorley finished 1-for-3 with a single.

Elly Manning took the loss in the circle, giving up eight runs (six earned) on 13 hits and two walks, while striking out three batters.

New London is now 5-4 overall. They will be back at home again tonight to host rival Danville, and in doing-so, will put their 3-0 conference record on the line.