Spirit of Morgan Hill’s 12-and-under Red team took third in the
11th Annual Vallejo Summer’s End softball tournament held Aug.
20-21. It was the first of six tournaments Spirit Red will face
during the fall season. It was another steppingstone to the team’s
ultimate goal of competing in the 2012 World Series in Florida
VALLEJO
Spirit of Morgan Hill’s 12-and-under Red team took third in the 11th Annual Vallejo Summer’s End softball tournament held Aug. 20-21.
Defensively Spirit was led by pitchers Vannesa Ramos and Madison Gallagher, who worked the entire tournament. Sam Parish and Ally Nodohara were virtual walls behind the plate, rarely letting anything get past them.
Captain Ianna Schaefli led the infield, which at various times included Sam Brenny, Myka Hughes, Jennifer Rosales, Skylar Millard, Jordyn Campbell, Marisa Chu, Ramos, Gallagher and Nodohara.
In the outfield, Millard, Rosales, Brenny, Rosales and Chloe Ikerd defended aggressively.
The players’ versatility was key to Spirit’s success.
Coached by Gene and Penny Ciraulo, the locals faced several teams from Northern California in pool play that Saturday, including the Sacramento Havoc, the Petaluma Steal Breeze and the Santa Rosa Hackers. Spirit went 2-1 for the day. Its one loss came during a nail-biter against Santa Rosa; Spirit trailed 5-1 and nearly came back to tie it, but time ran out with a final score of 5-4.
Sunday’s quarterfinal against Petaluma was a rematch, with Spirit winning 9-2 to reach the final four. In the semifinals, Spirit was pitted against the host team, Vallejo. While the locals rallied several times, overcoming an early deficit, the Hurricanes prevailed 9-4.
The third-place finish marked the first of six tournaments Spirit Red will face during the fall season. It was another steppingstone to the team’s ultimate goal of competing in the 2012 World Series in Florida.
