SAN DIEGO – The Pride of Morgan Hill U12 Gold team third second
in California State Games held July 19-20. The California State
Games are a Junior Olympic format competing among other top teams
and sporting events across the state. Twelve teams across
California had qualified to compete in the under-12 division. The
Pride qualified for the Games earlier in June at Twin Creeks.
SAN DIEGO – The Pride of Morgan Hill U12 Gold team third second in California State Games held July 19-20.
The California State Games are a Junior Olympic format competing among other top teams and sporting events across the state.
Twelve teams across California had qualified to compete in the under-12 division. The Pride qualified for the Games earlier in June at Twin Creeks.
Opening ceremonies began Friday night, and Pool play began on Saturday and single elimination was Sunday. After a difficult loss to Moorpark, a Southern California team, the Pride had to be satisfied with the bronze medal.
The Pride’s first game Saturday morning pitted them against the Hanford Flames. The Pride got off to a quick 8-0 start after six walks, hits by Sarah Cornaggia and ChereRae PreJean and a triple by Holly Turay in the first inning.
Pitcher Kelly Hillman shut the Flames down through through innings until the Flames scored three runs on three hits and a walk.
The Flames scored three more runs in the fourth inning. The Pride took a 10-6 lead going into the final inning after Erica Turnlund and Maureen King reached base.
The Flames threatened again scoring once and loading up the bases before center fielder PreJean caught a fly ball for the final out and the first win for the Pride.
In the afternoon game, the Pride faced Mesa Del Sol, a powerhouse, who would go on to win the gold. Danielle Clampett hit a double, and C.J. Wrye and Amanda Whitling were the only other the Pride players to get their bat on the ball against the strong Sol pitching.
The Pride were defeated 18-0. Mandy Kline and Cornaggia shared pitching responsibilities for the Pride.
With a second place finish in pool play, the Pride faced the Visalia Spirits Sunday morning. Again, Hillman took the mound with Turay behind the plate.
And again patience at the plate paid off for The Pride with three walks in the first inning, followed by a wild pitch to score two runs.
The Pride shut down the Spirits with strong defense from shortstop Brittany Vaughn-Vandergriff.
The Pride then scored thee more in the second inning after five walks. A fielder’s choice by Clampett and a single by Vandergriff drove runs.
The Spirits threatened in the fourth inning. Second baseman Wrye fielded a grounder for the first out. A grounder back to Hillman followed by a strikeout completed Hillman’s four-hitter.
The Pride faced the Tulare Thrill in the early afternoon matchup. Cornaggia was on the mound for the Pride.
The Thrill scored first with three runs on two hits.. The Pride came back in the second inning with a run on hits by Kline, Cornaggia and Turay.
The Pride shut the Thrill down and tied the score by the end of the third inning. Hillman slapped a ball to the left side for a hit, Vandergriff singled and Turay added a two-RBI double.
The Pride outfielders Doting, Wrye and PreJean caught everything in the air and shut down the Thrills throughout the remainder of the game.
The Pride recorded the go-ahead run in the fourth inning and added another three runs in the fifth inning for a final score of 7-3.
The Pride’s final game was against Moorpark, who scored 10 runs in the first inning.
