Oklahoma Athletics 16U Gold- Madden earn Sparkler 16U win with clutch situational play

NORTHGLENN, Colo. - The offensive fireworks were on display on Thursday morning when Oklahoma Athletics 16U Gold- Madden took the field against Indy Dreams Gold Lewis-16U. Both teams entered the game coming off a morning win in the Box Bracket BF of Sparkler 16 & Under play but it was the OK Athletics who worked out of two bases loaded jams to earn the 10-7 victory.
 
"The bats came alive today and we play really good defense behind the pitcher; played really well today", said OK Athletics head coach Jon Hunter.
 
Indy Dreams started things with a bang in the top of the first with a two-run blast from first baseman Kate Mathies but the Athletics took advantage of a throwing error by the Dreams' third baseman in the bottom half of the inning leading to a 2-2 ballgame.
 
After an RBI ground rule double in bottom of the second from Brooke Fleming that gave the Athletics their first lead, Nina Richards knotted things back up in the top of the third after an RBI single making it 3-3. That was all the damage that Athletics starting pitcher Tori Miller would allow in the third, stranding three runners to keep the game even.
 
"We have been struggling on not giving up the big inning, so that was great to see us get out of big situations twice today," said Coach Hunter.
 
The momentum of the clutch defensive stop sparked the bats of the Athletics, who worked their way to a 7-3 lead by the end of fourth, headlined by Abby Hunter's key two-out two RBI single.
 
Indy Dreams rallied in the top of the fifth, plating three runs to put the score at 7-6, which was all started by a towering home run off the bat of leadoff hitter Beth Pavy. 
 
It was in the bottom half of the inning when the Athletics pulled away for good after catcher Peyton Norvelle sent a three-run bomb over the left field wall to make it 10-6; as the Athletics batted through the order.
 
The final push came in the top of the seventh from the Indy Dreams, who were able to score one to reduce the gap, but it was Miller who again clamped down on the mound with the bases loaded to escape with the 10-7 win at Northwest Open Space Park.