Firecrackers ELP 18U-Farris roll to 2-0 on first day of Power Pool play

By Adam Dunivan

COMMERCE CITY -- Life was a beach for Yazzy Avila on Tuesday afternoon. 

Perhaps with a day off on Wednesday from play at the Colorado 4th of July Tournament, the happy-go-lucky New Mexico State commit will make her way to a local sandy destination (yes, those do exist in Colorado) and soak up some rays. 

Avila and her teammates with the Firecrackers ELP 18U Farris squad were living large in their second game of Power Pool play at Pioneer Park, rolling up hits and scoring runs with relative ease on their way to a 14-7 victory over Newton Rock Myers. 

After a 9-8 victory over Nebraska Quakes Prime earlier in the day, Firecrackers ELP emerged as the only team in their pool to go 2-0 on the day. 

“I feel like as a team we came out and we brought the energy … I was happy with our offense that we were hitting and playing well against these good pitchers,” Avila said after her team closed out the game following a rain delay. “It’s real good pitching. From the very first pitch, we jumped on it and were getting hit after hit after hit.”

Firecrackers ELP scored 11 runs in the first two innings against Newton (1-1), taking an aggressive approach at the plate and not missing many opportunities to put the ball in play.

In the first inning, they racked up five singles and the hit parade kept going in the second frame with five more. Avila’s two-run single -- her second of three total hits for the game -- scored Michelle Diaz and Sydnee Bowlin to make it 6-2. Diaz’ second hit of the inning, a double, scored Aylani Ottley to bring the lead to 11-2. 

While Newton Rock Myers got two back in the bottom of the second, the Firecrackers responded with two more runs in the fourth inning. With Diaz’ two-run single the big swing of the frame. 

Peyton Farris worked through traffic to pitch nearly a complete game, but Kynlee Bowlin came in and managed to shut the door in the fifth and final inning.    
In all, the Firecrackers tallied 14 hits. 

The team will pick up again on Thursday afternoon in facing the So Cal Athletics Jaquish/Marinakis 18u NTT and Originals-KC. 

“Hopefully we just all bring the heat and keep hitting the way we do,” Avila said. “I want to do is win, and I want to face the best pitchers.”