The Pride 12U Green team gave a determined effort in the NSA B
state championships last weekend in Salinas, finishing in the top
six with a 4-1 record in the double-elimination tournament. After
some practice games this weekend, the Pride moves on to Seattle for
the Western World Series.
The Pride 12U Green team gave a determined effort in the NSA B state championships last weekend in Salinas, finishing in the top six with a 4-1 record in the double-elimination tournament.
After some practice games this weekend, the Pride moves on to Seattle for the Western World Series.
Following are the results from last weekend’s tournament games:
PRIDE 5, Central Valley Hotties 1
The Pride won a squeaker in the opener, as they played excellent defense and got a complete game from Kelly Hillman on the mound.
Both teams played scoreless ball for three innings before the Hotties broke through for a run in the fourth.
The Pride tied it up in the top of the fifth when Stephanie Doting drew a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, was sacrificed to third by Ally Barsanti, and scored on a passed ball. The run was critical as time expired, and the teams headed for an international tiebreaker.
Shayna Osuna started things off with a bunt that was misplayed by the Hotties, and the floodgates opened for the Pride. Amanda Whitling was hit by a pitch, Amanda Kline walked, and Hillman and Jacey Turay both reached via fielders’ choices.
Before the dust had settled, the Pride had scored four runs. Hillman faced the minimum in the bottom of the inning, and the Pride moved on in the winners’ bracket.
PRIDE 6, Gilroy Shockers Blue 0
The Pride scored three runs in the top of the second inning on a rally started when Frankie Kellett reached base, followed by walks to Kelly Henningsen, Cat Molnar, and Stephanie Doting.
Brittany Vaughn provided the only hit required to give the Pride a 3-0 lead.
That was all the Pride really needed as Kellett threw two scoreless innings, and was followed in pitching duties by Amanda Kline, who worked the final three shutout frames.
Salinas Rockets 3, PRIDE 1
The Pride was bumped from the winners’ bracket by a very solid Salinas team.
The Pride played well on defense, but could only muster one run on one hit, a single by Brittany Vaughn.
To add injury to insult, Cat Moran went down with a knee injury.
PRIDE 11, Gilroy Shockers Black 6
The Pride began what they hoped would be a long road up through the losers’ bracket by jumping all over the first unit from Gilroy early on.
The Pride sent 11 hitters to the plate in the top of the first, scoring seven runs with consecutive hits from Stephanie Doting leading off, followed by Ally Barsanti, Brittany Vaughn, and Shayna Osuna.
Amanda Whitling drew a walk, and Amanda Kline drove in two with a bases-loaded single.
Kelly Hillman drew another walk, and Frankie Kellett matched Kline with another bases-loaded, two-run single.
The Pride tacked on three more in the second, and it looked like a walk in the park, but then the wheels came off.
The usually solid Pride defense gave the Shockers an extra out in the bottom of the third, and three pitchers and several hits later, the Shockers had scored four runs to sneak back to within striking distance at 10-6.
Adding to the drama was a near forfeit by the Pride. The Pride had used their only bench player in view of the big lead, and then Vaughn took a foul tip to the head at catcher. She was stunned and had to leave the game.
By rule, the Pride had to finish the game with nine players. Some felt the Pride should just forfeit, but the girls were having none of that. While the Pride coaches were discussing their options with the umpire crew, Cat Molnar’s family helped her onto the field.
The courageous Molnar was not allowed by the umpires to fill the spot, but the time spent in debate gave Vaughn enough time to clear her head and reenter the fray, albeit positioned out of the line of fire, deep in the outfield and on the foul line, with orders to not even think about going after the ball.
The Shockers provided one last dose of tension in the last inning by loading the bases with only one out, but Hillman slammed the door with a pair of strikeouts to end the hotly contested game.
Pleasant Hill Panthers 3, PRIDE 2
The adrenaline from the day before wasn’t enough to carry the Pride through their early morning matchup with the Panthers.
The Pride was scoreless through four, but then ratcheted up the intensity to score one in the fifth.
Frankie Kellett led off with a single, stole second in front of a Jacey Turay walk, and then Kellett and Turay combined on a nifty double steal, with Kellett scoring on the throw to second.
It looked like the Pride would pull it out in the last inning.
Trailing 3-1, Stephanie Doting led off with a base hit. Ally Barsanti followed with a bunt hit, and Shayna Osuna singled and advanced on the throw to leave the Pride trailing by only one, with a run in and runners on second and third with nobody out.
Unfortunately for the locals, a strikeout and a double play snuffed the rally, and the Pride were sent home with their second loss.
