Wayland Connection helps Davenport win in NAIA tourney

Davenport University’s softball team won the opening round of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) post-season tournament the hard way Wednesday by sweeping Rio Grande in a do-or-die doubleheader. The Panthers are heavily influenced, as usual, by the Wayland Connection, including (from left) first and third sacker Haley Obetts, assistant coach Brittni Merchant and pitcher Mallory Teunissen, all Wayland High School graduates who played for Cheri Ritz. Davenport now moves on to the second round in Florida.