NEWTON — National Trail’s softball team rallied from an early deficit but couldn’t complete the comeback as it fell to host Newton, 8-7, on Tuesday, April 5.

Newton took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Trail rallied to tie the game in the top of the third. But the Indians reclaimed the lead with three of their own runs in the bottom of the inning. In the fourth, the Blazers scored four times to take a 5-4 lead. The key hit was a double by freshman Kayleigh Minner, scoring three runs.

Trail kept the lead until the sixth, when Newton regained the lead at 7-5 with a three-run inning.

Trail tied the game in the top of the seventh, but the Indians tallied the winning run in the bottom of the inning.

Junior Payten Laird pitched a tough game but was charged with the loss allowing 10 hits, walking two and striking out four.

Freshman Gracie Jones drove in two runs and sophomore Ariel Lee drove in a run for the Blazers. Freshman Bobbi Grimes added a double.

Trail is scheduled to host Carlisle on Friday, April 8, before traveling to Centerville, Indiana on Monday and Ansonia on Tuesday.