The Pride 14A team traveled to Galt last weekend and took the
tournament championship over eight other teams. The Pride team beat
the Nor-Cal Blitz Sunday evening for the championship.
The Pride 14A team traveled to Galt last weekend and took the tournament championship over eight other teams. The Pride team beat the Nor-Cal Blitz Sunday evening for the championship.
The Pride team, compromised of local players from three different high schools, had struggled earlier in the season. The majority of the team had moved from playing 12B ball last summer to 14A and a high level of competition play.
Despite losing the first two games on Saturday after working out just eight hits, the team rallied in the next four games, scoring 33 runs on 41 hits.
The pitching staff of Laura Forrest, Kaitlyn Nelson and Tricia Goularte then allowed only nine runs en route to the team’s first tournament Championship.
The offense in those four games was powered by Thalia Thrappas going (5-for-7), Amanda Rosevear (7-for-11), Danielle Austin (5-for-13) and Raelyn Ferry (5-for-12). April Herrera had four walks and scored five runs scored, Kelly McDonald hit a pair of doubles and had four RBIs and Laura Forrest went 7-for-10.
The Pride defense was lead by Katiana Bear (six outfield putouts), Melanie Regan at first base and April Herrera at second base (nine assists and six putouts).
Pride 4, NorCal Blitz 2
A solid two-hit pitching performance by Kaitlyn Nelson sparked the win. Rosevear’s first inning double lead the Pride to a 3-0 lead. She added another double and had had two RBIs to lead the Pride offense.
Herrera’s five assists at second base lead the defense.
Pride 15, North Bay Renegades 2
Seven consecutive hits and doubles by McDonald and Austin in the second inning gave Pride a commanding 9-0 lead. The 17-hit attack gave the Pride the win after three innings. Forrest pitched her finest game of the season, allowing only four hits and no earned runs for the victory. The offense was led by Regan (2-for-2), McDonald (a double and three RBIs) and Laura Forrest (3-for-3).
Pride 6, California Tornadoes 5
Having previously lost twice over the last two weeks to the Tornadoes by a combined score of 12-1, the Pride took on the role of underdog and pulled out the win. The final out came with a Tornado runner on third base. Pitcher Goularte took control over a great hitting offense, scattering eight hits over six innings with no walks.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning, the Pride got things going as Herrera led off with a double.
Ferry followed with a triple, followed by singles from Rosevear and McDonald. The four-run rally was capped by Thalia Thrappas’ two-run double, giving the Pride a 4-1 lead. Regan led the defense with eight putouts at first base.
Pride 8, NorCal Blitz 0
Having thrown a two-hitter for the win on Saturday, Nelson again dominated the Blitz throwing a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and one walk over five innings.
The scoreless tie lasted until the fourth inning. Ferry and Rosevear led off with singles. McDonald’s bunt was mis-handled by the Blitz third baseman to allow to runs to score. Forrest’s followed with a triple, and Bear’s laid down a perfectly executed bunt.
The Pride batted through the order, scoring all eight of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nelson helped her shutout by going 2-for-2 at the plate.
The Pride 14A starts off the Morgan Hill tournament Friday night at 6 p.m.
