By Evan Tynan
LOVELAND, Colo. - As the Sparkler Juniors 14U tournament works its way closer to weekend play, two teams having early success matched up to see who would advance in Power Pool Bracket C. Texas Bombers Gold 14U HTX- Burgess was able to scrap together a late run to advance over EC Bullets 04 Hegood/Backets, 5-4, in six innings at Barnes Sports Complex. Early on the EC Bullets looked like the team to beat after putting up three runs in the top of the second inning. Kit Heggood delivered a two-out, two RBI double to give the Bullets a 2-0 lead, and Emma Elrod added to it with a bloop single to center making it 3-0. "We got down early and I told the girls it's gonna take more than three runs to win this ballgame," said EC Bullets head coach James Burgess. "The girls know that we are always capable of coming back and the bats are hot right now." Outfielder Kayden Henry got the Texas Bombers on the board for the first time when she laced a two-out double that brought home two runs in the bottom of the third. It was Henry's alert base running that allowed her to make it to third base on a throwing error, giving three-hole hitter Katie Lott the opportunity to knock her in the next pitch and tie the game, 3-3. Bombers reliever Halie Pappion escaped a bases loaded scare in the top of the fourth inning and Texas used that momentum to take their first lead of the game in the bottom half of the inning. Outfielder Seleste Compain led off the inning by reaching base and worked her way around to score on a wild pitch putting Texas up 4-3. The game took a wild turn in the top of the fifth while Ava Brooke Stickland's sacrifice fly tied the game 4-4; the remaining Bullets baserunner tried to take home after an errant relay throw but was cut down at the plate to end the inning. The Bombers Gold delivered in crunch time with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the fifth when Compain connected on a RBI single to center, giving the Bombers a 5-4 advantage. Pappion shutdown the Bullets in the top of the sixth, going three-up, three-down to earn the save in the Bombers Gold win. Texas will play Saturday, July 6, in the next round of the Power Pool C Bracket in Erie, Colo. "It's a new day." said Burgess of his team moving on in the tournament. "As long as we stay positive, have energy and we are up good things are going to happen." By Adam Dunivan
WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- The 18U NJ Heist Elite boasts not a single 18-year-old on the team at this year's Colorado Sparkler tournament, and yet the squad's play has most definitely indicated they are not in over their head playing against older competition. In fact, the team of all 2021's and 2022's keeps blasting their way through the competition and did so again on Friday at the Tepper Fields. A 9-5 win over the SoCal Athletics-Gonzalez in Mt. Elbert A Bracket play has the Heist Elite in the bracket winner's game Saturday at noon against the Illusions Gold Villegas (Austin, Texas). "(Being young) is a great experience because we all can gel together," said Heist Elite's Madison Weir, herself a 2022 from Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, N.J. The Heist Elite went 4-0 in their pool play and took down two SoCal Athletics organizational teams on Friday, having earlier in the day defeated SoCal Athletics-Jendro/Dempsey 12-2. Weir made the most of the pitches she saw with three home runs on the day, and the team's power stroke was on display throughout the afternoon to aide in the advancement. They needed all those runs against a pesky A's Gonzalez team that had battled back from losing its first two pool play games to contend in the upper-most Sparkler bracket. Julia Yukniewicz's first-inning grand slam spotted Heist a 4-0 lead, but the A's responded with a run in the second inning and three runs in the third to tie it at 4-4. In the bottom of the third, it was Taylor Hill's two-run triple that regained the lead for Heist, and after Nola Mountain's sacrifice bunt for SoCal made it 6-5 in the top of the fourth, Heist Elite responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning followed by Wier's big blast in the sixth. "I've been going through a little slump but now I feel I'm out of it," Weir said. Emily Arnold came into the pitching circle and silenced the SoCal bats, setting her team up for another tough challenge as the young team attempts to reach Sunday play. Weir said that at this point in the tournament, adding runs when holding a lead becomes even more crucial. "Now that we're getting further in, we're a pretty young team and our goal is just to compete with who we're facing," Weir said. "We just have to keep pushing hard and through everything." By Adam Dunivan
WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- Caleigh Robinson may have been the one to ultimately deliver the biggest hit for the 18U Illusions Gold Villegas in Friday's thrilling 8-7 victory over the Rocky MTN Thunder Grammerstorf, but she wasn't about to take any of the credit for the 18U Colorado Sparkler Mt. Elbert A Bracket win, which puts the team up against the NJ Heist Elite on Saturday. "It was just a team effort," Robinson said. "Yeah, I got the game-winning runs but it took guys in front of me to get on and do their jobs so I had to do mine. And the pitching stepped up in the end to finish it off." Indeed it was a team win to the end, with both highlight-reel moments (here's looking at you, Maddie Boldt) and some head-scratching mistakes that kept the Colorado-based Thunder in the game and allowed them to tie things at 6-6 after six innings. Illusions Gold Villegas led the game 6-2 at one point. Robinson was clutch in the seventh inning, hitting a two-run double to make it 8-6 just when it appeared the Thunder were going to get out of a big jam. Then in the bottom of the seventh, after an efficient six frames from starting pitcher Taryn Westbrook, 2020 Lauren Herrneckar came in and shut the door, though an error did lead to a Thunder run to provide the final margin. It was tense, but then again at this stage of the tournament, everyone is out to win at all costs. "It was crazy, for sure," Robinson said. "Maddie (Boldt) carried us. Our pitcher (Westbrook) ... if a pitcher is stressing then they're not going to be their best ... but she is always calm and collected." Boldt hit two home runs, one reaching the backyard of a house well beyond the left field wall at the Tepper #2 field and the other which would have rivaled any Major Leaguer's exit velocity on its way out. However, those blasts may not have been Boldt's top highlights. Having had the bat taken out of her hand by intentional walk the rest of the afternoon, Boldt made up for it in centerfield. In the bottom of the fifth she cut off a run at home plate with a tremendous throw from near the 200-foot fence -- it landed in the catcher's glove on the fly and certainly stirred up the Illusions supporting group. The Thunder, winners of four of their six games so far, chipped away by scoring in five of seven innings. Trailing 6-5 in the sixth and with time expired, 2020 Erin Keen came up with a tying base knock to set up a nerve-wracking conclusion. Illusions Gold Villegas (Austin, Texas) improved to 5-0-1 for the tournament, as earlier on Friday it blanked Advanced Fastpitch Academy (Overland Park, Kans.) by a 9-0 count. By Michael Roley
WESTMINSTER, Colo – When all three phases of the game come together at once for a team, the result is something sweet. The Rocky Mountain Thunder (McAllister) team can certainly relate to that after a 4-0 shutout win over the E1 Prospects Silva/Gaeta on Friday afternoon in Mount Elbert B bracket play at the 18U Sparkler. The Thunder were clicking in all phases of the game. They played solid defense, delivered several timely hits and received a lights-out pitching performance from starting pitcher Audrey Burt. The Thunder scored all four of its runs in the third inning while stifling the E1 Prospects throughout. Burt tossed six scoreless innings in which she allowed just three hits and struck out seven. The primary threat the Prospects mounted was in the fifth inning when they reached via two hit by pitches. But the Thunder were able to escape by throwing out a runner at second on a ball hit to the shallow part of the outfield and then following the second hit batter, a 6-4-3 double play. Burt said her best pitch is the rise ball and she threw it frequently and with plenty of success. “I just felt like I was throwing really well and really hard,” Burt said. “So, that really helped and whenever they got a hit or something, my defense was there to help me out. There was a line drive to centerfield and I was like ‘Oh no’ but they caught it and I was like ‘Alright we’re good, let’s get the next one.”’ Offensively, the Thunder used a big third inning to take control of the game. Haley Hoy kicked off the inning with a lead-off double to left. Then, the next batter, Annika Sprague, worked the count to full and launched a home run to left-center to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead. “With a 3-2 count, I’m always expecting a strike,” Sprague said. “Off the bat I knew I hit it out.” Carly Kirk and Genevieve Bower also had RBI hits in that pivotal third inning that gave the Thunder their permanent 4-0 lead. The Thunder are a local team based out of the Highlands Ranch area. Like many teams at this point in the summer, the Thunder have logged their share of travel miles. So far, they’ve already made stops in Florida, Las Vegas, Arizona, and Oregon. Next week, they’ll be in Park City, Utah. But there is something unique about playing at home. And there are definitely a few perks. “You get to sleep in your own bed,” Sprague joked. Oh, and they’re acclimated to the altitude. Perhaps that’s played a role, if even a small one, in its record. The Thunder went undefeated in pool play and their only loss so far after their 12 p.m. game with the E1 Prospects is a one-run defeat to a program within their own organization. “We always play in this tournament,” Burt said. “It’s also nice because we can breathe and are used to the altitude." The Thunder have players from various classes. On the roster, they have three players listed as Class of 2020 players, rising seniors this school year. But then another six players are incoming juniors playing up in age. And three players are 2022 players that will be sophomores. This challenge of playing against older players is one they’ve embraced. “I love it because the lower competition isn’t always pushing us,” Sprague said, who is in the 2021 class. “But up here we’re definitely getting better.” by Kyle Koso
AURORA, Colo. — Staying optimistic about your chances in competition is the smart and logical way to maintain your edge, even if it almost makes you look crazy to be a believer. The 16u AZ Hotshots-Captain squad stood just two outs from defeat Friday during Power Pool action against 16u Aces Ashley/Creamer, with the Hotshots hanging around the margins all game without much to show for the effort. But two doubles, an error and a wild pitch turned the moment upside down in the bottom of the sixth, and the Hotshots escaped with a 3-2 victory to advance in Bracket A action. Aubrey Chavez doubled with one out, and pinch-hitter Alexi Diaz fought off the stress of an 0-2 count to double as well to make it 2-1 for the Aces. With Olivia Lostorto batting, an error allowed Diaz to score, with Lostorto advancing all the way to third. And one wild pitch later, the Hotshots had their comeback in the books. “That’s the key, playing to the very last out and the very last pitch. They have to know they still have a chance, and they knew they had the talent and the opportunity to win,” said Hotshots head coach Steve Captain. “They strung it together, and they put pressure on the other team at the end of the game, which led to mistakes.” Outside of the shocking rally, the game was dominated by Aces pitcher Kylie Chung, who finished with 10 strikeouts and ended four innings with whiffs by Hotshot batters. That kept the Aces out of trouble, and Chung also provided a long solo home run in the fourth inning, pairing it with a run that came across on a balk to give the Aces that 2-0 lead. In the sixth, Diaz came up and got into an immediate 0-2 hole. But rather than take a tentative swing, she punched a double to left-center to get the Hotshots on the scoreboard. “Coach told me to be up on the plate to take away the outside. I watched two on the outside, knowing I shouldn’t have, but Coach said don’t leave anything on the table, so I just swung,” Diaz said. “We had a pretty good lead in our first game today and ended up getting tied and needing a tiebreaker. We didn’t lose our spirits then, and we didn’t do it this game, either.” “We had figured early on that (Chung) was living on the outside, and the strike zone was outside, so we had to make the adjustment. We told all the batters to get up on the chalk,” Captain said. “When I made the substitution and (Diaz) came up, she let two go by, and I told her that shouldn’t have been a surprise. I was proud of her; she took it opposite field, and that made the difference.” The rally gave the win to Hotshots starter Angelica Tello, who pitched very well — three hits allowed, three walks, and ringing up six of the first seven outs on harmless balls to third base. “I shook off that first game; I knew my team wanted this one, and I had to give it my all,” Tello said. “It felt pretty good, knowing my team had my back and was able to score the runs we needed.” Chavez had two hits and a walk for the Hotshots, and Taylor Meyers also doubled. Fresh off a dramatic final inning comeback to beat American Freedom, 9-8, Finesse 18u Blevins was fired for its second Fireworks double elimination bracket contest. The Michigan natives wouldn’t need its late-game heroics versus the San Jose Lady Sharks, moving a step closer to the Championship Single Elimination Bracket with a 15-3 victory.
“I always tell my team to come in a never let off the gas pedal,” said head coach Greg Blevins. “Every team here is good and they’re here for a reason. No one is coming from around the country to not be ready to play softball. So, I tell my team to stay focused the entire time and stick to the game plan.” Tessa Nuss kicked off the came with a single but after two passed balls, she was standing just 60 feet away from home. Two batters later, Sierra Kersten drove Nuss home with a grounder towards shortstop. Nuss was just getting her day started. The lefty came back to the plate in the top of the second inning with the bases loaded and two out. Jumping on the first offering from the Sharks’ pitcher, Nuss launched a grand slam over the fence, giving her squad a 5-0 advantage. “I been working on my full swings lately and wanted to see what I could do outside of practice,” said Nuss. “In every at-bat, I just tried to read what the defense was giving me. I want to be a three-dimensional player at the plate, so I try to work on everything.” In the circle, Finesse’s lead appeared safe and secure with Alexis Bonk at the reins. By the time Bonk turned the keys over to Makayla Thompson in the fourth inning, she had struck out seven Shark batters and didn’t allow a runner past second base. “Alexis is a bulldog in the circle,” said Blevins. “She knows she has great teammates behind her and ever time the stakes get higher, she seems to rise to the occasion.” “I was still pumped from our comeback win in the last game and it carried over into our second matchup,” Bonk explained. “I was able to get ahead in a lot of my counts early and that’s always a nice place to pitch from.” Following a three-run top of the third inning which included a two-run home run from Allysa Lake, Finesse kept the pedal to the metal in the fourth and fifth frames. Five runs crossed the plate in the fourth as six players collected hits and Nuss showed her power again in the fifth, blasting a solo shot. Nuss’ 4-4 morning included two home runs, a bunt single, five RBI and four runs scored. “Tessa works so hard on her game,” Blevins said. “We’re working really hard on her ability to read the defense. I want her to know where she can get a hit no matter what teams throw at her. Of course, she also showed her power from the left side today.” Despite giving up three runs in the fourth, Thompson guided the ship home in the fifth and sixth innings, sealing Finesse’s 15-3 victory and propelling her team one win away from the Championship Single Elimination Bracket. “As long as we support each other and keep our energy up as a team, we can keep this thing rolling tomorrow,” said Bonk. By Michael Roley
LOVELAND, Colo -- Throughout pool play, the Eugene Lightning 04 were waiting patiently for that breakthrough moment. They had lost their first three games of the 14U Open division of the Junior Sparkler, including two nail-biters by one run. But eventually, their patience paid off Thursday afternoon and that wonderful breakthrough moment came as they rolled to a 10-2 win over Gameday Xtreme in five innings. The Lightning (Eugene, Oregon) fell behind early 2-1 after the first inning, but as they have throughout the tournament, they stayed the course. “It was really nice to comeback,” said starting pitcher Malia Williams said. “We got down in the beginning and just battled back.” Earlier in the day, the Lightning dropped a close, hard-fought game to the Oklahoma Steele 04 by a score of 7-6. The players said they were a little slow at the start offensively in that one and aimed to correct that in their second game of the day. And they did just that. After scoring one run in the first, the Lightning responded with a big second inning that scored four runs and gave them a solid 5-2 lead. During the inning, and throughout the contest, the Lightning put plenty of traffic on the bases and played small ball to take their lead. Chelsea Rustik led off with a base hit. After that, the Lightning executed a series of textbook bunt plays. Natalie Plough bunted for a hit and Williams followed with a second consecutive bunt hit. Aaliyah Gaboriault hit a ball hard to left that was out of reach for the left fielder and two runs scored. Brenna Wilson dropped the third excellent bunt down of the inning and beat the throw to first as another run scored. Layla Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to round out the scoring in the second. “We get on base. I think our weakness over the last couple of weekends has been leaving a lot of runners on base,” head coach Kim Strahm said. “I think, especially the last few games, we’ve done a really good job of getting runners in scoring position and then scoring them.” After a scoreless third and fourth, the Lightning struck again with a big fifth inning that put the game out of reach. Martinez led off the inning with a single and from there, the offense got rolling. Molly Blanchette hit an RBI single that scored Martinez and Laurel McGuigan hit a ball past third that scored two more. Rustik added another RBI on a single as the Lightning plated five runs in their final turn at the plate. Williams pitched four strong innings, allowing only two runs and zero runs after the first. Mya Guerin tossed an efficient fifth inning to close out the game. The resiliency displayed by her team came as no surprise to Strahm, who added that the team also shows consistent energy. “I tend to expect it,” Strahm said. “We are a very expressive group. We do a lot of cheers and try to have a lot of energy for game time and practice. These girls always found a way to comeback. I’m really proud of them.” The Lightning’s perseverance rewarded them with an impressive win on Thursday. And that showing can only do good things for them moving forward. “I think it’ll help us because you kind of get down if you’re losing, but I think this will help us bounce back,” Martinez said. The Lightning begin bracket play Friday morning at 8 a.m. at Centennial Park against the Minnesota Sting. By Michael Roley
LOVELAND, Colo – It had been two weeks since Jaylee Ojo had pitched extensively in a game. The right-handed pitcher for the PS33 Academy team out of Sacramento, California injured her wrist two weeks ago at a tournament in Portland. One might think that after time off like that there could be some rust to kick off in getting acclimated to pitching again. Well, that wasn’t a factor at all for Ojo in PS33 Academy’s (14U) 3-0 win over USA Athletics Sanchez-2022 on Thursday. Ojo, who head coach Wes Archie said was the ace of PS33’s pitchers, was incredibly sharp. She tossed a seven-inning complete game shutout while allowing only a few hits and striking out six. USA Athletics barely threatened with runners in scoring position, and when they did, Ojo worked out of those situations with poise. “This is her first time pitching in two weeks so for her to come out and throw the way she did, I think they got a few hits off of her, but she dominated and shut them out,” Archie said. “She did a fantastic job.” PS33 Academy gave Ojo an early 2-0 lead in their half of the first and that proved to be all she needed. Ojo, who did appear for an inning in an earlier game but made her first start in two weeks, had her entire repertoire of pitches working. She said she throws a fastball, drop ball, rise ball, and changeup. All four pitches were working on Thursday and keeping hitters guessing. Proof of this came after the game when Archie said Ojo’s drop was “dominant” and helping set up her other pitchers. Catcher Reina Zermeno added that the rise was also very effective in getting batters out, especially once they had two strikes. Ojo found a rhythm early and was able to deliver several wicked pitches with late movement. Ojo credited the defense behind her for such a dominant outing. Perhaps this was most evident when a USA Athletics player popped a ball up in front of the plate. Zermeno sprung from her catching stance to make a diving catch and then fired to first to complete the double play. “I knew I had a good defense behind me and I knew that no matter what, my teammates would back me up,” Ojo said. “I wasn’t nervous or anything.” Each team has their own version of how they call pitches. Typically, the coach calls them from the dugout and the catcher relays the signs out to the pitcher. This is predominantly what PS33 does a lot of the time. However, what makes them unique is that Archie isn’t hesitant to allow his catcher to call them either when needed. “I trust my catchers to go ahead and call pitches as well,” he said. And that trust is something Zermeno certainly embraces. “It’s really nice that he knows I can call the game and he trusts me,” Zermeno said. “I like calling it, especially because I can really see where the batter is and what they’re doing.” Zermeno also blasted an important two-out home run that extended PS33’s lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth and helped provide more cushion to the lead. Throughout the tournament, PS33 Academy had been putting up eye-opening numbers on the scoreboard. Coming into the matchup with USA Athletics, they had outscored their opponents in three previous games by a combined score of 48-3. In two of those games, they scored at least 15 runs, including a 23-run outburst. This game proved to be a more competitive contest, with both teams going in unbeaten in Pool V play of the 14U open in the Sparkler. It was important in establishing seeding for bracket play beginning tomorrow. But combine that with a Fourth of July day, and it was a welcomed challenge for PS33. “It was exciting because we were going head-to-head being some of the best teams in our pool,” Zermeno said. “It was really cool to see us come out and fight, not afraid and knowing what we had to do.” PS33 will begin bracket play Friday at 9:45 a.m. against NorCal Firecrackers EP at Barnes Complex in Loveland. AURORA, Colo. -- Resting for two days before opening 18u Fireworks play is just what the doctor ordered for the Rhode Island Thunder Gold – Wilson. Opening on Thursday with a 16-2 win over the Northwest Lady Bandits, Rhode Island followed up with a 10-0 victory over Polar Rush Gold.
“With a couple of our games readjusted due to the weather, I wasn’t quite sure what we were going to look like with a couple days rest,” said head coach Adam Laliberte. “Obviously, coming from out East we’re not quite used to the atmosphere of Colorado. It’s been nice to get our wind a little bit.” After a quiet first inning of softball, Meghan Gormley made some noise in the top half of the second. With two outs, Gormely launched a solo home run, giving the Thunder the early lead. “Coach had us really focused on going after that first-pitch strike,” said Gormley. “Against these tougher pitchers, you’re not always going to get that perfect pitch. You have to do the best with what you’re given.” Rhode Island added two more runs in the third inning as Emily Tow matched Gormley’s effort with a home run of her own. Kaitlyn Holly also tallied a run, utilizing her speed to take advantage of a few Polar Rush defensive errors. In the circle, Caitlyn Fallon was spinning a gem. Through three innings, the University of Maine commit dealt two 1-2-3 innings and struck out two. “We were kind of hitting everything, my catcher and I,” Fallon said. “We were hitting a lot of different spots and with a lot of movement.” Even with a bit of pressure in the fourth and fifth innings with runners in scoring position, Fallon relied on her defense, forcing a duo of popups in each frame. “They always have each other’s back,” Fallon said. “The team is always the priority. It’s an awesome team culture to have.” Already leading 3-0, the Thunder added to its total with a safety squeeze bunt in the fourth inning from Gabrielle Comeau. Still not satisfied, Rhode Island exploded for six runs in the sixth inning. The Thunder totaled four extra-base hits, including a three-run home run by Olivia Gilbert, her fourth of the tournament. “I’m just trying to pick up my team right now,” said Gilbert. “My bat wasn’t as hot last week so I’ve tried to pick it up this week.” Laliberte handed the reins over to Jenna Bradley in the sixth inning. With the double-digit advantage, Bradley confidently set down the top of the Polar Crush lineup in order. “Our pitching has been fantastic,” said Laliberte. “We’ve been focused on clean defense, because if you make a mistake against the teams in this tournament, you’re almost certain to give up a run if not more. I couldn’t be happier with how Caitlyn and Jenna pitched today.” Rhode Island earns a top seed in the 18u Fireworks double elimination bracket. Before its Friday matchup, the Thunder will play a pair of practice games, looking to continue its momentum. “We just need to have fun,” said Gormley. “That’s what this is all about.” 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. By Adam Dunivan
WESTMINSTER, Colo -- 18U SoCal Athletics Jendro/Dempsey head coach Brian Wilson couldn't help but admire the resolve of his team Wednesday during the 18U Colorado Sparkler's second day of competition at Westminster's Tepper Fields. Shortstop Mairady Dempsey confirmed Wilson's thoughts after the A's came from behind in both of their games, the second a thrilling 8-7 walk-off victory in which they trailed the TX CF Intruders Banzer 6-3 heading to the sixth inning. "We always seem to (get behind), like first game today we were down 5-0, but we find away to slowly but surely come back and keep our energy up," Mairady Dempsey said. "If it wasn't for our energy, we'd be nothing. That does it for us." Overall, Wednesday was the ultimate recovery for the A's after dropping both their games on Tuesday, and it made Pool E of the 18U Sparkler a little bit tighter after the Intruders initially were running away with things. "I think the main thing is the girls have a little more confidence as we know get into a little heavier competition," Wilson said after watching his team score five runs over the final two innings to upset the Intruders. "But these are the fun ones -- the ones you win by one in 'overtime'. They're the ones that take years off my life, but they're the fun games to be part of." This week, these SoCal A's are representing Arkansas and Missouri, along with a few California players playing with the team for this particular tournament. The bottom line, however, is they all came together to get some needed wins. After beating Colorado Altitude 11-8 in their first game on the day, Wilson said he knew his team was going to be challenged with the Intruders, who had scored 32 runs in the previous three games. And it was a slugfest. The teams combined for 29 hits and Intruders batters didn't strike out the entire contest. SoCal led the game 3-2 going to the fifth inning when it appeared the Intruders were going to salt away the game. They plated four runs to take a lead, getting big hits from Hannah Schnettler and Caroline Banzer as part of the rally. The Texas team followed it up with a clean run through the A's lineup in the bottom of the inning, and it was 6-3 heading to the bottom of the sixth before SoCal strung together some good hits. Dempsey doubled and went to third on a wild pitch, and she scored off a single from Kasaya Christianson to make it 6-4. Then came Shalin Charles, whose towering two-run home run left no doubt about a suddenly tied game the second it came off the bat -- it was Charles' third hit. "She's been on this weekend, that's her second home run" said Dempsey, who is still looking for her right college fit. "I hit the last one in, but she got the runs to tie it up before that so she was a big part of it all." The Intruders came back with a run in the seventh as Kaitlyn Lara-Corn drove home Schnettler, but SoCal got the winning runs home on the combination of a Haley Nguyen double to the gap and a Dempsey infield single in which she beat out a bang-bang play at first base with Desiree Lara providing the winning run. "That game could have went either way, but it was the hitting that came through for us," Wilson said. "It came down to one swing." Both teams now wait for the brackets to be revealed for Friday play. By Michael Roley
AURORA, Colo – It was a comeback kind of day for the Colorado Sapphires 16U squad. They began their day by rallying for a 9-4 win over Ice Silver 16U-Workman in the early game. Then, they finished it by coming from behind once again, this time from a five-run deficit to knock off the Ohana Tigers Indian (California) by a score of 9-5 to complete Box Bracket A play in the Colorado Fireworks. For five innings, the Sapphires were held scoreless. They hit some balls hard, but they were right at defenders. And other times, the Tigers made superb defensive plays. But then the top of the sixth inning happened and the whole game turned around. With the Tigers leading 5-0 and appearing to be headed to a comfortable victory, the Sapphires’ offense came alive. It started with two consecutive walks and then Isabelle DiNapoli hit a single and the bases were loaded. Things started out slow and gradually built up to the big hits. A fielder’s choice scored Avery Panozzo and the Sapphires were on the board with the score 5-1. Still four runs to go and two outs to work with. That’s when things got interesting. Eve Dalla hit an RBI single to left for another run. Then with the bases juiced, Alexia Martinez ripped a ball to left and two more runs scored. In seemingly the blink of an eye, the score was 5-4. “We’d been hitting balls hard right at them and they played really good defense,” coach Jeff Pigati said. “They made a number of plays to stop rallies. We got the first couple of runners on and you could sense the momentum moving our way.” Following the Sapphires’ third walk of the inning, Caroline Pigati delivered another hit to left to knot the game up at five. Hits were coming from up-and-down the lineup as Tori Gardner subbed in as a pinch hitter and came up with the based loaded again. She delivered a two-run base hit that would put the Sapphires ahead for both the first and last time. “It was really exciting and great to see our team work together so well,” pitcher Madison Shepard said. “Everyone really contributed.” For good measure, Panozzo delivered a two-out base hit that extended the lead to four and completed a wild nine-run inning. DiNapoli, who came on in relief of Shepard in the pitching circle, retired three batters in order in the sixth to end the game after the game clock had expired. “That’s one of the most rewarding things in this, “Jeff Pigati said. “When we talk to the girls we preach that nothing is ever over until it’s over and to just keep fighting and keep grinding. Eventually, when you breakthrough, it’s just fantastic. That’s one of the hallmarks of this team. We never give up and you never know what’s going to happen until the last out of the game. Fortunately, today it worked out for us.” It can’t be understated how valuable of an experience that first game was, either. Having faced a deficit not even two hours before and finding a way to rally was a familiar situation for the Sapphires. They knew there was no reason to press the panic button and that with enough quality at-bats, a big inning was just around the corner. Jeff Pigati said the first game was “almost a carbon-copy” of the win over the Tigers. It wasn’t too difficult to draw on that experience as the comeback began. “This is kind of how we play anyway but when you just did it a couple hours ago, it’s a lot easier to believe in yourself,” he said. Siana Sanvicente had a two-run hit in the fourth for the Tigers and pitcher Nicole Antuna tossed several scoreless innings as the starter before being replaced later in the game. The Sapphires, a local Colorado team featuring players from around the Denver area, were thrilled with their performance Wednesday. And one of their goals, as their tournament schedule winds down for the summer, is to play their best softball now. “We want this to be our peak of the season where we play our best as a team,” Shepard said. And these two comeback wins are certainly helping in working towards that goal. WESTMINSTER, Colo. - The 18U Fireworks Power Pool championship featured two teams known for their offensive fire power. Texas Glory and Louisville Lady Sluggers both were tested early by rough innings allowing their opponent to bat around and exchanging the lead on multiple occasions. In what became a mile high shootout by games end, it was Louisville prevailing as champions, 12-10, on Wednesday afternoon at Christopher Field Softball Complex.
"This is a marathon not a sprint," said Louisville head coach Jim Huecker of his teams resiliency. "We have already had some big wins in this tournament and the team has really jelled to the point where we know we can do some big things." Louisville jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the top of the first after chasing Glory starter Maddie Boyd, who failed to record an out through five batters. The inning was capped off by Louisville starting pitcher Nijaree Canady's line drive double to left that plated two. By innings end, the Lady Sluggers sent twelve batters to the plate and recorded five hits. "Sometimes when we score a bunch of runs we tend to get comfortable, but against the teams in this tournament you can't ever get comfortable," said Huecker of his team's hot start. In the top of the third inning, it was Texas Glory's turn to bat around the order. Texas took advantage of an inning opening error at shortstop and followed it with six hits, capped off by a two-out two RBI single by right fielder Hailey Morgan cutting the lead to 6-5 and marking the end of the day for Canady on the mound. The bottom half of the third brought more offense for Louisville, who tacked on another run to give the Lady Sluggers some cushion after an RBI double to left center off the bat of right fielder Pickle Winkler making the score 7-5. That cushion did not last long, as Texas came out firing in the top of the fifth inning to take a 10-7 lead capped off by a three-run moon shot to left by shortstop Riley Love. When the Lady Sluggers found themselves with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning, it was Glory relief pitcher Savannah Desrochers who came through with a pivotal strikeout to escape the threat. Canady spearheaded the final rally in the bottom of the sixth with a mammoth shot to dead center to pull the Lady Sluggers within two runs making it 10-8. The hit parade continued three batters later when third basemen & Purdue commit Cora Bassett tattooed a three-run bomb over the left center wall putting Louisville back in charge for good, 12-10. "One big swing by Nija there and we were right back in it and going," said coach Huecker. "We have won three close games now (in the tournament) and I am super proud of the team right now," said Bassett. "We got a little cocky when we were up six runs early but at the end there we realized it was time for us to win this." The 18U Power Pool Champions Lady Sluggers and runner-up Texas Glory will look to keep their hot bats and momentum going into the remainder of 18u Fireworks action. By Michael Roley
AURORA, Colo – It may seem counterintuitive to the intense nature of sports. And maybe even more so in a competitive and intense tournament like the Colorado Fireworks. But sometimes, it just helps to take a deep breath and relax. This was one approach at the plate for the Wheatland Spikes 16U during their Box Bracket B game Tuesday afternoon against Aces Express 16U Prospects. And did it ever work. The Spikes left little doubt as they slugged their way to a 15-1 win at Olympic Park. They hit two long home runs and sent a number of hard-hit balls into gaps and to the fence. By the end of the third inning, the Spikes had a commanding 7-1 lead. “The best thing is to just relax,” said Abby Kammeyer, who ripped an RBI double off the fence in the top of the fourth. “And just get out of your own head.” Of course, this is much easier said than done. And there’s no one-size-fits-all method to settle in comfortably at the plate. But as the Spikes mentioned afterward, being patient is usually a step in the right direction. After all, when you’re more relaxed at the dish, it seems like you’d be more prone to wait for the right pitch. “I have a plan up there and first pitch, if its not where I want it then I’m not going to swing at it,” Carly Engelhardt said, who launched a three-run home run in the top of the third. The Spikes went down in order to start the game and then the Aces took an early 1-0 lead in their half of the first. That would be the only run of the afternoon as starting pitcher Adyson Slayback kept the Aces’ bats in check throughout the game. In some ways, it was a crescendo offensively for the Spikes. They got three runs in the second courtesy of a Gab Drager RBI double to put the Spikes on the board. A well-executed sacrifice fly by Morgan Rau rounded out the scoring and the Spiked led 3-1. The crescendo ramped up in the third with Engelhardt’s three-run blast. A few batters later Lauren Luna hit a solo bomb of her own to left field and the Spikes were in control with a 7-1 lead. Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, the Spikes plated seven runs. Luna hit a two-run single to bring her RBI total to three for the game. Rau also knocked in two more runs with a hard single to left. They even scored when Megan Adamek was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Teaghen Amwoza rounded out the scoring with another double off the fence in the fifth that brought the score to 15-1. The Spikes retired the Aces in order in the bottom half of the fifth to end the game. Combine the offensive outburst with a stellar pitching performance and efficient defense, and it was a complete effort from the Spikes. “They bounced back from our last game where we didn’t hit too well and left a lot of runners on base,” head coach Russ Rau said. “They hit well with runners in scoring position. And then our pitching, they got a run in the first inning and then our pitching locked it down for the next four innings and didn’t give them anything.” On the weekend, the Spikes are now 3-0-1 with a 2-2 yesterday being the only non-win. This offensive showcase was a step in the right direction for achieving what the Spikes want to do at the Fireworks. “We went to advance deep and get the girls exposure to the coaches around,” assistant coach Bobby Drager said. “Now it’s bracket and survive and advance. The goal is to get to Sunday. That’s a good way to end the day with tomorrow off. It’s something good to think about tomorrow before coming back Friday ready to work.” By Adam Dunivan
WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- After a quietly efficient day with the bats on Tuesday, the 18U Elite 1 Prospects Silva/Gaeta (Southern California) seemed to be in seek-and-destroy mode at Wednesday's 18U Triple Crown Sparkler play at the Tepper ballfields in Westminster. As a result, it's been a picture-perfect 4-0 start for the team in just its third year of existence at this level of play. Wednesday's back-to-back efforts for E1 included 11-6 and 9-1 victories, the 20 combined runs smashing their Tuesday output of seven total runs. And at the heart of Wednesday's heavy-hitting display was Keilei Garcia, one of the team's 'Day 1' members alongside Carlie Williams and Ulani Jonston. "The team was hitting and we were backing each other up on the field, and really this whole tournament's just going good for us so far," said Garcia, who produced two home runs on the day and drove in four runs in their second game, a victory over Advanced Fastpitch Academy (Overland Park, Kans.). For Garcia, the feeling of getting two tighterwins and Tuesday helped the calming process of being involved in one of their biggest tournaments of the year. This was, after all, the first time the squad had traveled out of California for tournament action this spring/summer. The 2019 third baseman, who will attend and play for Division II Angelo State (Texas) this fall, doesn't have the pressure of playing good to attract recruiters, but she knows her play engages the team's effort to draw those colleges to their field for others to be seen. After E1 dispatched of AFA Wednesday, one of the team's coaches brought out a stack of business cards from college coaches to make a poignant statement about why they traveled. "It's eye-opening, really," Garcia said. "For E1, starting as a little organization and going to this, we're making a name out there and coaches are cancelling other plans to come out and see our girls. It's just really good." Wednesday's game against AFA was not pristine, but close. Garcia opened the scoring with a two-run home run to dead center in the bottom of the second, and then in the bottom of the fourth found a hole past second base for a two-run single to make it 4-0. In the fifth, E1 scratched up a five-spot with key hits coming from 2020 Celeste Paniagua and Jonston, and heads-up baserunning from a new addition to the team, 2020 Korinne Gutierrez. This came immediately after Advanced Fastpitch Academy's best early scoring opportunity. In the top of the fifth, 2022 Libby Hawks narrowly missed a three-run home run with a foul ball to left field, and a throw out of a potential base-stealer ended the threat. E1 pitching did just enough to curtail a couple of late innings with baserunners on for AFA (2-2), who managed to push across its lone run of the game in the sixth inning. Of their 4-0 start, head coach Frank Silva of E1 said that this is one of the best starts his club has gotten off to at the Sparkler. The tournament continues Friday, but the organization was going to gather all its teams together for a Wednesday workout before going off and having some fun, just to keep the competitive edge. "We have three girls that came here originally, and they were all big-time players that could have gone to any organization and played," Silva said of the three pillars Garcia, Williams and Jonston. "But they've given us the opportunity to help us become what we've become and help us where we're going. "In this tournament, it's the best start so far. We've gotten into Saturday and come up short in some tough games. This group here, they've always been fighters." by Kyle Koso
WESTMINSTER, Colo. – For the 60-plus athletes who took the field Tuesday night at the Colorado 4th of July Unsigned Player Workout, there was no shortage of reasons to be optimistic. First of all, dozens of college coaches were in motion at the Christopher Complex, all interested in assembling an answer for their lineups for this fall or perhaps 2020, hoping to see that solution pop up in the workout with a quality swing of the bat, or an impressive defensive play. And, ultimately, the players on hand could simply take comfort in their own abilities. There are a million reasons why some players reach a college roster late in the process – injuries, late bloomers, unfortunate slumps – but the tempo and skill level on display Tuesday just proved the point that there is a lot of ability percolating down through youth softball. “Today was about coming out here, showing my skills to the college coaches – at the moment I’m not currently committed, but I have offers from schools,” said Skylar Sabetta, 17, who plays for the Stealth out of Lancaster, Calif. “I want to play at the highest level possible, and if I can get to Division I, that’s exactly where I want to be. I’m trying to play hard and work my way up.” Sabetta had a few solid swings during the batting portion, but she really stood out with her confident glovework and strong throwing arm, while also blitzing around the bases during speed drills. Crucially, she didn’t let a big day get too big for her emotions. “One of the best things I try to do is to control my mind, and not let my mind control me. Positive self-talk … all the time. It helps a lot,” Sabetta said. “I try not to dwell on the negative things that happen. My offense was a little slow today, but defensively I was pretty strong and on my ‘A’ game.” Authoring some very powerful swings during the three-hour workout was Kallieah Richerson-Cook, 17, who plays for Universal fastpitch out of Martinez, Calif. The left-hander left the yard on a couple at-bats, and also made strong throws from her spot in the outfield. “I’m looking at going to college, and was hoping to perform well. Thankfully, I put a few out that helped me, and I got some schools looking at me, which is amazing,” Richerson-Cook said. “I’m hoping things work out. “I was just myself with everyone – vocal, communicative, making friends with the coaches and players, putting myself out there no matter what. It’s the competition. I love watching people compete and going out there myself. It helps me become a better person and a better player.” Deals will get done at the Colorado 4th of July event; you might even see signatures for scholarship offers happen on the hoods of cars in the parking lot. That’s why coaches work the event so hard, from daytime pool play games to these special workouts that fill up the evening hours. “A kid earlier today caught my attention; she was on the field next to the one I was at, where I was watching another kid. She told me she was at this, so I wanted to watch some more,” said Trine University (Angola, Ind.) assistant coach Brittney Harvey. “It’s such a market that these kids are part of, and they travel a lot, and sometimes they just don’t get an opportunity to be seen. This offers a great opportunity, with coaches standing around, to get them closer to where they ant to be for their academic future. “We recruit intentionally, looking for the right pieces to come help us out, and to make an impact. I’m excited, and very happy with what I’ve seen.” LOVELAND, Colo. – Pitching was the name of the game in a 14U Sparkler Juniors Power Pool M matchup between Illusions Premier Cain 14U (1-0-0) and Indiana Magic Gold 04– Boteler (0-1-1) on Tuesday afternoon. It was Illusions Premier, behind a dominant effort from starting pitcher Emily Delgado, who left the Magic guessing in a 4-0 shutout victory at Barnes Sports Complex.
“They came out really strong, made every routine play and got the runs on offense when we needed it,” said Illusions Premier coach Caityln Cain of her squad. “It’s a good tone-setter for the week." Delgado induced an array of flyouts off the bats of Indiana Magic Gold throughout her 5 2/3 innings of work on the hill. In doing so, held the Magic to just three hits in the game and didn’t allow a runner past second base. Delgado also recorded three strikeouts on the day. “I try to put a lot of spin on the ball,” said Delgado when asked about her results in her opening game. “She mixes speeds really well and that causes a lot people to be out on their front side; making it really easy on us on defense,” said Coach Cain. All of the offense came in the top of the third inning, when 10-hole hitter Gracie Smith started a string of what would be five consecutive hits for the Illusions Premier that saw four runners cross by innings end. In the inning, Illusions Premier sent nine of their ten batters to the plate. That also marked the end of the day for Magic Gold starter Amanda Eaglin, who went 2 1/3 innings. “I would have liked to see us put them on more innings that just the one,” said Cain. “But what I really liked about that inning was we executed the bunt, we executed the sac fly, we put it on the right side when we needed to. They worked together as a team to get the runs across the board, so it was a nice team inning.” Indiana relief pitcher Erin Hoehn did her part to keep her club in it; finishing the game without surrendering another run in 4 2/3 innings work, while tallying five strikeouts in the appearance. The 4-0 lead was more than enough room for Illusions Premier closer Sidne Peters, who sat down all four of the remaining batters she faced to wrap up the Illusions Premier victory in their tournament opener. Outfielder Townsen Thomas and Peters both finished the game going 2-for-4 and each adding an RBI. “Our energy was really good and took a domino effect the rest of the game and it will help us out the rest of the tournament,” said Delgado. Illusions Premier Cain 14U and Indiana Magic Gold 04 – Boteler will both continue pool play on day two of the 2019 Sparkler Juniors event on Wednesday, July 3 at Barnes Sports Complex. By Michael Roley
FORT COLLINS, Colo – There was no warm-up round for the Marucci Patriots Cenla 14U team in their opening to the Junior Sparkler tournament in Fort Collins on Tuesday afternoon. And that’s alright. In fact, it’s a very good thing for the team based out of Alexandria, Louisiana. They came to Colorado from their home in central Louisiana with one of their biggest goals to simply compete. And a narrow 6-5 comeback win over the Oklahoma Reds 04 in walk-off fashion provided a worthy test toward achieving that. At the same time, the Patriots didn’t expect anything to come easy. They were prepared for the challenge. “Our kids know what they’re competing against,” head coach Logan Hebert said. It wasn’t some sloppy team. This is a good tournament and there’s a lot of good teams. Every team that we’re going to face is going to be great. I think they know that coming in. They know every game they have to fight all 21 outs and no game will be given to them.” The Patriots fell behind 1-0 early before a two-run double by Emily Carter put them ahead 2-1 in the bottom half of the second. A back-and-forth game ensued as the Reds took the lead right back in their half of the third, clearing the bases on a base hit. Facing a 4-2 deficit heading into the bottom half of the fourth, the Patriots then used an effective combination of power and situational hitting to tie up the game. First, Erin Stallings hit a no-doubt home run over the left-centerfield fence. Then, Carter reached on a base hit and was moved over thanks to another knock from Laryn Aymond. Cheyenne Jenkins then delivered a perfectly executed sacrifice fly on a ball to center to score Aymond and tie the game. The Patriots weren’t done, however. Emily DeSelle ripped an RBI single to left to retake the lead at 5-4. In a fitting manner, the Reds then answered right back with a game-tying hit in the top of the fifth. With the game all locked at five, time began dwindling down on the game clock and the Patriots needed to execute when the opportunity presented itself. In the bottom of the sixth, Carter led off with a walk, then an excellent bunt by Jenkins that danced with the third base line had runners on first and third with just one out. Previously, the umpire had just announced that time had expired, and this inning was to be finished. One run and the game was over. Two outs without a run and such a well-played game would end in an awkward tie. DeSelle alleviated all of that as she delivered an infield shot back up the middle that scored Carter and secured the Patriot win. “Coming through when we needed to the most. The game was on the line and the other team put pressure on us but that didn’t really stop our team from competing,” Hebert said. “They fought all the way through. If they had given up in the first inning, the game could have gone completely different. I just got done telling them that details are everything. And when you compete with good teams, it’s the details that matter the most in every game you play.” In such a back-and-forth, hotly contested game with multiple lead changes, there’s bound to be emotional swings. But the Patriots were able to assist each other through them. “We were good at picking each other up and when we needed each other to just do our jobs,” second baseman Traxtyn Finney said. “We work well together and even in tight situations we pull through a lot.” As nice as Tuesday’s opening game win was, it just the first test. There will be others to come and Coach Hebert and her team know that. And while they certainly passed with a satisfactory grade, there is still plenty left to improve upon. “I think we can definitely be better on the effort and executing when we need it most,” Herbert said. “That’s what we’re going to try to do this next game and kick it into gear.” Pool play has been a sturdy test for the 14u California Breeze – Fernald. Slipping by Lady Lightning Gold, 8-7, and toppling Texas Bombers Futures, 6-5, has the Breeze eying the top power pool bracket with one more game to go.
“We play this high-level, competitive schedule all Summer,” said head coach Ryan Fernald. “It’s what we want. The response to adversity today was really impressive. When we jump out on teams, it’s easy to build confidence but to come from behind like we did takes a lot of character.” The Bombers struck first in the opening frame, capitalizing on a lead-off walk and an error to score the game’s first run. California countered in the second with an RBI single from Jazlyn Fines. With the game knotted at one, the momentum shifted back to Texas in the third inning. Kaylee Blackledge and Kaelyn Zusi each tallied RBI and all of the sudden the Bombers had two-run lead, 5-3. Despite Brielle Wright keeping California within arm’s reach in the circle, the Breeze failed to muster any run support as the game drifted into the fifth inning. “We knew we had the ability to come back at any moment,” explained Makayla Newsom. “We just needed that one person to make a big play and do their job.” Mia Santos got the ball rolling with a lead-off single. Newsom, merely trying to bunt Santos over, took advantage of a duo of Bomber errors and scampered all the way around the base pads, tying the game at three. Tying the game wasn’t good enough for Fernald’s crew, though. Behind Newsom’s inside-the-park home run, Robyn Balmediano and D’Auna Johnson each collected doubles while Layla Towner notched a triple and scurried home on a wild pitch. In total, the Breeze scored five runs, taking control of the contest, 6-3. “I think the momentum was swinging back to us in a big way in the middle of that inning,” said Johnson. “I had been struggling up to that point. I just knew I had to stay within myself and keep the big inning going for my team.” “I challenged them right before that inning,” Fernald said. “I asked them if they were ready to play ball yet. All of them said yes and they came out firing in that inning.” California’s work wasn’t quite complete just yet. Even though time expired in the top of the sixth inning, the Breeze still needed to secure the final three outs. Texas battle back for two more runs, crawling within one, 6-5. With a runner on and nobody out, Fernald turned to Malaya Johnson. “I talk about these situations with her all the time,” said Fernald. “She’s a big-time pitcher and she always seems to elevate her game in these big-time moments against teams that could change the game with one swing of the bat.” If Johnson had any nerves, no one in the stands could tell. The right-hander mowed down the Bombers in 1-2-3 fashion, completing the 6-5 victory. The Breeze will face the Ohana Tigers Wednesday morning in its final pool play matchup. A win would secure a place in the top power pool bracket and keep hope alive of playing in Thursday’s championship contest at the Aurora Sports Park and broadcasted on FloSoftball. “We just have to come out tomorrow focused and ready to play,” said Newsom. “It starts with warmups and taking every moment seriously. If we can be ready to go early, I have a good feeling about this team.” By Michael Roley
FORT COLLINS, COLO -- Momentum is hugely important in any sport. Basketball coaches sometimes call timeouts with the sole purpose of slowing the momentum of the other team. And fastpitch softball is no exception to that. “Momentum is huge in our sport,” said Allie Kelly of the Missouri Bombers 14U- Huelsing team. It was the Bombers squad who found that critical early momentum and never relinquished it while on their way to a convincing 11-4 win over the Arizona Hotshots-McCombs in the early games of the Junior Sparkler tournament on Tuesday. The team, whose players hail predominantly from the St. Louis area, spotted the Hotshots a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. But after that, the offense kicked in, the momentum train got rolling, and the Bombers didn’t look back. The team from Missouri received hits from nine different players throughout the five-inning contest and used a seven-run first inning to assert themselves. Kelly drove in the Bombers’ first run of the game on an RBI double to the left. Trista Grobe ripped a single to put the Bombers ahead 2-1 and then the hit parade was on. Elly Eckrich hit a two-run double to center and by the time the inning was up the Bombers were ahead 7-1 and the top two hitters in the order, Natalee Moore and Madison Uptegrove, had registered two at-bats in the inning as the Bombers batted around. “That’s really major in any game,” Grobe said. “Because it gets you rolling, gets you pumped up, and just gets the energy on your side versus theirs.” After the explosive first inning, the Hotshots didn’t roll over, though. The team from Arizona fought back with two runs of their own in the second to cut the score to 7-3. But, Kelly regained the momentum for the Bombers with a lead-off solo home run in the third. Eckrich drove in another run on a sharp single to center and the lead was back to six. The Bombers went scoreless in the third inning but scored two more in the fourth to put the game effectively out of reach. Eckrich drove in another one to bring her RBI total to four on the afternoon. The Bombers showed their ability to play small ball with multiple runners reaching on well-placed bunts and an aggressive approach on the bases during that inning and throughout the game. Whether it was a home run, hard hit balls into the gap, or a bunt down the third base line, the Bombers’ offensive versatility proved to be a strength. “We like to think of ourselves as a little scrappy,” Grobe said. “Somebody will hit a home run, then the next one will bunt. Then we get base hits, grounders, whatever we can get to get on base.” “It’s nice to have a lot of tools for sure,” Kelly added. Kelly and Kora King pitched five combined innings and despite some sporadic traffic, they were able to prevent the Hotshots from any sort of big inning that would tilt the momentum away from them. The win put the Bombers at 2-0 on the day. They beat Illusions Gold 05 - Trojan in a close 5-4 game earlier in the morning. “It’s been good,” Grobe said of their first few days in Colorado. “The first two games as a W feels pretty good.” LOVELAND, Colo. – Although it was just their second games of the 2019 Sparkler Juniors tournament, both Salinas Storm 14U Plascencia (0-1-1) and Utah Fastpitch Club Korth (1-0-1) battled back and forth as if their tournament lives were on the line. After five lead changes and a combined ten hits for extra bases, the contest finished in an 8-8 draw after seven innings in the 14U Supplemental Power Pool bout at Barnes Sports Complex.
“From a pitching standpoint we need to know to keep the ball down in these situations”, said Salinas head coach George Plascencia of playing at Colorado’s altitude. “It does come into play but we know it goes both ways, and don’t use that as an excuse.” Coming off a 12-3 opening morning loss in pool play, the Storm jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Marissa Martinez delivered a two-out RBI single in the first. Utah quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning when starting pitcher Kiaira Smith hit a lead-off solo shot to center to tie the game. Club Korth tacked on another run in the second inning after Kenna Cowley’s RBI single drove in Cassidy Hauptman making it 2-1. Salinas wasted no time regaining the lead in the top of the third inning, highlighted by right fielder Iris Bejarano’s RBI double to right center followed by a clutch two-out RBI single off the bat of first baseman Shanelle Cavazos putting the Storm back on top 4-2. Yet again, Utah knotted things up at 4-4, taking advantage of a throwing error that scored two from catcher Arissa Ramos that went down the left field line in an attempt to catch a runner stealing third base. It was then Utah’s turn to get crafty in the fourth, when Hauptman laid down a squeeze bunt to plate shortstop Julie Mayfield, who had tripled in her at-bat prior to regain the lead at 5-4. That would mark the end of the day for Salinas starter Celeste Meza, who went four innings allowing eight hits, and was replaced by Miki Hayashi. The Utah lead did not last long, as the Storm responded with their largest output in an inning of four runs in the top of the fifth. It was again Cavazos’ two-out clutch hitting that put Salinas up 8-5 with a two-run frozen rope over the left field wall, capping off a 2-for-4 day at the plate with three RBIs. “I have the same approach every at-bat and don’t like to change anything really; I just know that I got to do what is right for the team,” she said of her pivotal two-out hitting. “We still have some things to work on but we will come out stronger tomorrow.” After chipping away at the lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, Utah found themselves down to their final two outs in the seventh when a pair of errors at second base allowed the tying two runs to come across to even things up at 8-8 as the time limit of the game expired. “We need to come in with the right mindset; I think when we come in with the right mindset, the mental game takes over the physical game,” said Plascencia. “We made a lot of errors today we don’t normally make but that comes back to our approach.” Salinas Storm 14U Plascencia and Utah Fastpitch Club Korth will both look to wrap up pool play on Wednesday at Barnes Sports Complex. By Thomas Hoffman
ERIE, Colo. -- Josh Fisher and the Tennessee Mojo came ready to play in Colorado this week. Opening its Sparkler Junior Power Pool campaign with an impressive 6-0 win over OC Firecrackers, the Mojo continued its stellar play, moving past Glory Atkins Gold, 18-4. “Everyone came to play today,” said head coach Josh Fisher “From the first person in the lineup to the last, everyone was ready to play. We have players representing eight different states on this team. It makes it kind of hard to practice. Our pitching and defense were fantastic to start today. It just took a little bit to wake up the sticks.” In the top of the first inning against Glory Atkins, leadoff hitter Jaydyn Goodwin picked up right where the team left off against the Firecrackers. Securing a single and a stolen base, Goodwin quickly put herself in scoring position as Keagan Rothrock came to the plate. Rothrock’s double scored Goodwin and ignited a four-run first inning for Mojo. “Every time I step to the plate, I know no matter what I do that my teammates have my back,” explained Goodwin. “My coaches and teammates have a lot of confidence in me and it translated to what I was able to do at the plate.” Goodwin finished the afternoon 5-5 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI. Starting pitcher Emma Langston had the pressure taken off her shoulders as Tennessee piled up its early lead but the right-hander made certain a Glory Atkins comeback would be near impossible. Through four innings, Langston allowed just two runs and tallied three strikeouts. “I couldn’t be more happy with how we pitched today,” Fisher said. “No matter what the score is, I wanted the girls to treat each inning like it was 0-0. Both pitchers did a great job of staying in the game and not losing focus.” With Langston spinning it in the circle, Mojo went back to work on the offensive end in the second inning. Two home runs from Mia Williams and Taylor Pannell highlighted another large frame for Tennessee, scoring six more runs and extending its advantage, 10-0. “She threw my kind of pitch, a little inside,” said Pannell. “I always do better with inside pitches so I tried to put a good swing on it.” Mojo added another run in the third inning and waited until the fifth to explode for seven more. All 10 batters that Tennessee sent to the plate recorded at least one hit on Tuesday afternoon. “Everyone on this team is really confident right now,” Pannell said. “Even if one of us had a bad day, we all have each other’s back or if we make a mistake, we all know we’ll pick each other up. It’s just a really positive environment to play in.” Leading 18-2 in the fifth inning, coach Fisher turned the keys over to Taylor Hess to close out the contest. Despite surrendering two runs, Hess forced Atkins into a game-ending double play and more importantly, placing Mojo atop Power Pool B. “We have a lot of goals this week but first and foremost is to make the TV bracket,” Fisher said. “We’re one more win from accomplishing that.” Tennessee will have to wait until Wednesday afternoon for its final pool play matchup against Aces Express Futures. A win vaults Mojo into the top 14u Power Pool bracket with all eyes on the championship game, broadcasted by FloSoftball and set for Thursday night at the Aurora Sports Park. By Kyle Koso
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- One inning into their afternoon game Tuesday, the 12u Texas Premier 06 (Temple, TX) squad cracked the door open slightly on offense, which didn't quite get the job done. So a little later, they just decided to bust off the hinges and leave no doubt. Texas Premier scored eight runs in the top of the third inning against Nemesis Elite-Slater after giving back all of a 3-0 lead, propelling the team to a 12-4 run-rule win to give it two victories at the start of 12u pool play at the Colorado Sparkler Juniors event. Starting pitcher Madyson Updyke reined in Nemesis (Downey, CA) after the first inning, and Zee Edmunds pitched a 1-2-3 fourth to cap the win. "You just have to believe in your team and don't think about it too much. Just pitch and throw the ball, and let the defense get to work," said Edmunds, who put Premier up 4-3 with a perfect bunt in the third and opened the floodgates. "It always feels good to start the rally. At the end, I just wanted to throw strikes and remember my mechanics." "It was kind of upsetting (to lose the lead), but the team will pick you up and have your back," Updyke said. "If the other team hits it, that's OK, that's what you have the defense for. All the runs gave me confidence; I was able to throw more strikes and know we had some runs to spare." Jerica Henry and Aubrey Cortez punched in with RBI singles, and Kaidence Quinn pushed one across on a fielder's choice. Premier put the ball in play enough to push a few runs across on errors, with the final RBI of the frame coming off a single by Iliana Buitron. Edmunds is typically a starter for Premier, but the staff wanted her to get a few throws in before the tournament heats up; she did a nice job spearing a line drive to the circle for the second out of the fourth inning. Premier head coach Jason Yepma mirrored his team by not being too bothered about losing the early lead, what with all the capable bats and aggressive baserunning just waiting to get unleashed. "Our bats are going to come alive, and we'll score runs. I trust the defense; we may give up a run here or there, but the bats will come through for us," said Yepma, whose team beat TX Cyclones Elite, 14-4, earlier Tuesday. "We're a team that, like the first game, we'll hit it out. Second game, we'll put bunts down. We can play power ball and small ball, and we are not a one-dimensional team." Giana Butler drove in a run for Nemesis, as did Ava Galvan. Pool play for the 12u Sparkler Juniors continues Wednesday. By Kyle Koso
AURORA, Colo. -- With the NCAA stepping in to calm the churn of drama and stress that dominated the recruiting of athletes barely in their teens, it's a different world these days for youth softball. Now, players have to be upcoming juniors in high school before formal recruiting conversations take place, and that suddenly leaves more time and mental energy to be spent on simply getting better at the sport itself. That creates even more value in 2019 for Triple Crown's 14u Elite College Camp Monday, held on eight fields Monday at the Aurora Sports Park. The moment, ahead of the Colorado 4th of July tournaments, was anchored by the head coaches and primary staff from high-profile programs such as Arizona State, BYU, Florida State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Texas A&M. And while the environment around players from ages 12-15 has changed, much is the same, as players look for an edge and college coaches look to expand the number of athletes who can deliver on a bright stage. "It's important for us to help continue the game grow when we have the opportunity. Even for three hours or whatever, we're happy to work with athletes from all over the country," said Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi. "Things have been able to slow down; players had to make decisions (about college) before they ever made a high school team. To be able to watch them develop and grow, without so much pressure, will go a long way for them. "Fundamentally, these players have it -- that's why they are all in Colorado. I want to see the effort, if they compete. I'm here to coach them up; I treat them like I do my athletes at Oregon." Taking her place in the Oregon session was Katelyn Heuser, 15, from Castro Valley, Calif., and a member of the West Bay Warriors. A pitcher and first baseman already blessed with height and a power arm, Heuser knows there's plenty more work to do if a spot on a top-notch program is a goal. "I like the coaching staffs; they are very open to new drills and showing you what college softball is like. There's a level of intensity I enjoy, and I've always just loved camps," Heuser said. "Four hours out here just feels like one, because everything is exciting and new. The mental side of softball is very important, and I feel like I'm calm out there, which has really helped me a lot. When I get out there, I feel comfortable and natural. "The (recruiting change) is good, it takes a lot of pressure off the girls. You can focus on your skills and just playing, rather than worry right now about what college to go to." Trisha Ford and her Arizona State staff made sure each camper got what they signed up for in a high-tempo workout that even ran a bit long. Just as it was with the Oregon camp, players stood in line to say thanks to the ASU coaches and share that last bit of connection before moving on to the chores of a busy tournament week. "Ever since I was little, I loved playing the game. New York is far from here, so when I had the chance to come out where all these camps are, I said, why not?," said Anna Cleary, 15, an Albany, NY native who plays for the Shock based in Schenectady. "It's so great; I might never get this opportunity again. I had a teammate here, and that helped, because she helped boost my confidence if I did anything wrong. Everyone here is very welcoming, and even in these (scrimmages), they will cheer you on. "I'd love to go D-I; if I keep contacting colleges, that will help. But I just want to keep getting better and better and see where that gets me." Ford was shouting praise at the final few batters in the scrimmage, making sure the athletes knew a trained eye was watching every move. "It's nice to play the game, enjoy it, and allow them to be 14 years old, without them trying to figure out where they will be in five or six years," Ford said. "This is the best part of our job, to just come out and coach. You want to see how they will perform under pressure; the more they do, the better they'll get at it. "The main priority is to see if they are playing hard, are vocal and coachable. If I'm suggesting something and they don't want to try it right away ... well, you're not going to get any better." by Michael Roley
AURORA, Colo. - In its own way, Sunday morning at Aurora Sports Park offered a glimpse into what will be taking place throughout the week at the Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks tournaments throughout several different Colorado cities. There were no official games played, but there was warm summer weather, spectators enthusiastically looking on with their coffee cups nearby, and most of all, hundreds of talented players showing off their ability in front of tons of college coaches. Players from various teams and parts of the country gathered on several fields for a four-hour session with the opportunity play in front of dozens of college coaches, ranging from the Division I level to NAIA programs. Some of the Division I programs present were Illinois, Clemson, Penn State, Wisconsin, Ole Miss, Oregon State, and 2019 Women’s College World Series participants Florida and Oklahoma State. “I was definitely surprised because the camps I’ve been to before they usually don’t have this many coaches,” said Abbey Jackson of the Finch’s Aces program based out of Flemington, New Jersey. “But it made it a better opportunity.” The sheer number of coaches was impressive. But in addition to their presence, they were also jumping into the moment on the field, and having a good time doing so. “It’s unique in the sense that you have so many coaches and they’re working together,” Oregon State assistant Eric Lebya said. “For instance, this camp here you have several big schools working together, which is really neat to see. I think it’s just really well-organized and well-run. Everything has been flowing nicely and that’s great to see.” The camp was essentially divided into two different parts. The first two hours allowed for direct instruction from the coaches. Players took live batting practice with the coaches tossing the pitches and were able to receive immediate feedback on the mechanics of their swing. The second half allowed players, who were divided up by age groups, to play live scrimmages in front of the coaches while they continued to offer pointers. “They’re getting the same instruction that all these coaches are instructing their athletes,” Lebya said. “That’s a bonus for these kids to get that top-notch instruction.” In addition to the quality of insight, the environment also allowed players the ability to ask questions of the coaches. In other settings, this could be an intimidating task. But the interactive nature of Sunday’s event helped the players create dialogues with coaches in a productive way, one that might even seem counterintuitive to an ordinary recruiting event. “The biggest thing I learned was just to go up to a coach whenever you can and ask questions,” said Addison Nance of the Firecrackers DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth). “They’ll reply back, they’re not rude or anything and they’ll have a conversation with you.” From a recruiting standpoint, the camp offered a level of convenience to the coaches. Players were mostly arranged by different age group and even different positions. Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith said this makes things smoother in looking to fill needs in their recruiting classes. The huge national draw of the Colorado 4th of July event is a major recruiting boost, as well. It showcases players from every corner of the country and allows coaches to see players outside of a regional context. “This is the largest recruiting/showcase event in the country during the summertime. You get to see kids from all over rather than just regionally. That’s why a lot of coaches find themselves here for a full week to get their most bang for their buck coming out here and watching the talented individuals here,” said Smith, who will be one of those coaches here all week until Saturday watching games. Perhaps Jackson of the Aces summed things up well for many players when asked what motivated her to arrive promptly at 8 a.m. for Sunday’s camp. And her response could also be applied appropriately to the week of games ahead. “I just really love softball,” she said. "I would love to play at a higher level and I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to come out and show what I can do.” |