Bottom of seventh thriller in final game gives team the
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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – The Pride 14A team concluded its summer season in an exciting fashion by claiming the Tahoe tournament championship last weekend.
With pitcher Tricia Goularte and cleanup hitter Amanda Rosevear unable to make the trip, the 10 remaining players knew they would have to pull together to pick up the slack. The Pride pulled out an extra-inning win in the semifinals, and then won the championship with timely hitting in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Pride batted .421 en route to an undefeated 6-0 record for the weekend, and the pitching tandem of Laura Forrest and Kaitlyn Nelson held the oppostion to a .226 batting average.
The Pride 14A concluded the season in strong fashion by compiling a 12-2 record down the stretch, taking first in two of their last three tournaments.
Pride 9, Crossfire Red 0
Nelson threw a three-hit shutout in the first game. The Pride came out swinging from the start. Forrest belted a triple scoring Thalia Thrappas and Jessie Wrye to help the Pride score four runs in the second inning en route to a 14-hit victory.
Melanie Regan paced the offense with a perfect 4-for-4 performance. Leadoff hitter Danielle Austin started off well with two hits and two RBIs and continued her performance all weekend.
The Pride’s new cleanup hitter Raelyn Ferry stepped up to the challenge, going 2-for-2 and scoring twice.
Pride 8, Extreme 1
Thrappas opened the game with a single to left. Forrest’s second triple of the tournament put the Pride on the board. Singles by Wrye, Melanie Regan and April Herrera combined with a line drive double by Kelly McDonald led the attack, giving the Pride a 7-0 lead after two innings.
On the mound, Forrest overpowered the Central Valley Extreme, allowing only four hits on seven strikeouts for the win.
Right fielder Katiana Bear ended an Extreme rally by throwing out a runner at first base on a close play.
Pride 6, Cabrillo Crushers 2
Leadoff hitter Austin started the game by beating out a bunt. With runner on second and third, Forrest came through again by belting a two-run double to deep left field. Herrera’s line drive to left brought in Forrest.
Ferry brought in Herrera to give the Pride a 5-0 lead after the first inning.
The Crushers threatened in the second, loading the bases wit no outs.
A bullet line drive to second baseman Wrye was out number one. Wrye threw to catcher Herrera for out the second out, and a third grounder to Wrye completed the solo sweep.
Nelson threw her second three-hitter of the tournament on four strikeouts. Regan’s diving catch in center field stopped a fourth inning rally by the Crushers.
The crowd was entertained with a spectacular thunder and lightning show that only a summer night in North Lake Tahoe could provide.
Pride 15, Left Coast Rebels 3
Forrest threw a two-hitter with five strikeouts. The Pride had a 7-run no-out rally to force th
e game to be called in the fourth inning. The offensive barrage was led by Katianna Bear (2-for-2, two runs), Regan (2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored) and Thrappas (3-for-4 with five RBIs).
Pride 7, CA Scarlet Saints 4
In the semifinals, the Saints quickly scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Herrera led off with a double to left followed by McDonald’s smash double to center. Wrye beat out a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt. Singles by Ferry and Nelson brought home two more runs, and Pride had a 4-2 lead.
The Saints then threatened in the bottom of the third inning with two on base, but an awesome leaping snag of a line drive by Wrye at second stopped the Saints and preserved the lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Saints started a two-out rally scoring two runs. With the bases loaded, pitcher Nelson battled the batter to a full count. After a foul ball, Nelson induced a groun ball.
Due to the length of the game, the international tie-breaker rule was put into place. Leading off, Nelson bunted to send Ferry to third. Then Austin singled to left, scoring Ferry to give Pride the lead.
Singles by Regan and Thrappas loaded the bases. Forrest walked giving the Pride a three-run lead.
McDonald make a nice diving catch and threw to Wrye at second to catch the runner for an outstanding double play. The final batter flew out to right fielder. Nelson showed tremendous poise pitching the entire game for Pride.
Pride 13, Crossfire-Black 12
The championship game pitted the two undefeated teams of the weekend against each other. The visiting Crossfire-Black came out swinging the bat, scoring three runs in the top of the first.
But it could have been worse as the team left the bases loaded. Singles by Thrappas, Forrest, Herrera and a double by McDonald tied the score at 3-3 after one inning.
The Pride bats came alive again in the second inning. Singles by Austin and Therrapas and doubles by Regan and Herrera brought in five runs in the bottom of the second and gave the Pride an 8-3 lead until the fourth inning.
A bases-loaded double helped the Crossfire score four runs to bring the score to 8-7.
The Pride again responded. Singles by Forrest, Wrye and Ferry, followed by a double down the left field line by Austin gave Pride the four runs back to maintain their five-run lead after four innings.
A quiet fifth inning set up a scary sixth. After pitching the first five innings, Forrest was replaced on the mound by Nelson in the sixth after an injury to McDonald, who was forced to leave the game.
The Crossfire loaded the bases an had a three-run double to left and eventually tied the game at 12-12. A 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh opened the door for a Pride victory.
Thrappas drove a 2-1 pitch into right center for a standup double.
Forrest, the next batter, hit a towering fly ball over the center fielder’s head, scoring Thrappas and giving Pride the tournament championship.
Forrest led the Pride offense all weekend with a .625 batting average. Both Forrest and Thrappas drove in nine runs a piece.
This tournament concluded another successful season for the Pride 14A team. The team wishes to thank coaches George Thrappas and Sally Wrye for their dedication and unselfish giving of themselves and their time for these girls.
