FRUITPORT – After a non-conference victory over Holton Friday, the Fruitport softball team was hoping to carry momentum into a conference doubleheader against Coopersville on Tuesday.

While the Trojans hit the ball well, they came up short on the pitching and fielding side, losing 16-6 in Game 1 and 13-2 in Game 2.

“I saw improvement tonight,” said Fruitport Coach Bob Dorman about his team’s play on Tuesday. “We hit the ball and two of our line shots you’re not going to hit it any harder. It just happened to be right at them. But we’re going to keep working and the ultimate goal is to hit, one through nine, in the lineup.”

The Trojans are now 2-7 overall on the season and 0-6 in O-K Blue conference play.

While they are obviously not happy with that record, Dorman believes he sees a young team starting to improve in various aspects of the game.

“We put the ball in play today and I’m pleased with that,” the coach said. “It didn’t feel like they dimed us in the first game, with how we hit the ball, but it’s okay. We’ll see them in districts. Hopefully we keep improving and play them better then.”

The Trojans showed some fight in both games against Coopersville.

In Game 1, Teagan Schultz had a two RBIs on a single while also adding a solo home run. Abby Lapres added an RBI single , Gigi Blibride had two RBI singles and Abby Lapres had one.

Game 2 started very rough, with Fruitport trailing by deficits of 3-0 after one inning, 7-0 after two and 10-0 after three.

In the top of the fourth, the Trojans put together a rally with Mylee Mineri driving home Kendall Lee with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 10-1.

Coopersville added three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 13-1.

Facing a possible mercy rule ending, Fruitport kept fighting in the fifth. Schultz started the inning with a walk followed by an Ash Olson single.

Following two outs, Kendall Lee was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A Coopersville error brought Schultz home and made the score 13-2.

The final play of the game was a wild pitch that saw Olson get called out at home when trying to score.

“We don’t quit,” Dorman said. “I have to give the girls credit for that. Especially out here in the stinking cold. We’re young and I know that, so we’re making young mistakes and it’s costing us games, but we don’t quit, and I hope they’re seeing that.”