BLACK WIDOWS '97 OPEN FALL SEASON IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS - 10/7/12
The Widows traveled to Springfield to kick off their fall season in the Land Of Lincoln / UIS College Exposure event. The Widows won 2 of 3 games here as they defeated the Hitting Center Black 16-5 and the East Peoria Express (18U) 11-5 before dropping a 4-3 decision to the Mid-Illini Mayhem. The Widows were led offensively by Eden Coppersmith who was unstopable at the plate going a perfect 8-8. Other top hitters were Sara Radae .571, Sydney Schwegel .429, Alex Holten .375, and Torrie Kruse .333. Pitchers Tori Beachum and Eryn Coppersmith both collected a victory. Beachum struck out 9 in 5 innings and had a 1.40 ERA. Lindsey Toenyes was very solid defensively at catcher.
OCTOBER BLAST TOURNEY CUT SHORT BY RAIN - 10/14/12
The Widows '97 made their first trip to West Frankfort, Illinois for a combined 16U / 18U tournament. Nice older ballpark with a big timber backdrop filled with Pine trees. The Widows split 4 games here on Saturday as the rest of the tournament on Sunday was washed out by rain. The Widows beat the Southern Illinois Lady Bullets (18U) 8-3, then lost to a very good Mattoon Pride (18U) team 3-0, and let the next game get away from them losing to the Southern Express '96 by a 7-6 score. They finished up with a 7-0 win over the Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs. Top hitters for the Widows were Torrie Kruse .625, Hayli Green .500, Sydney Schwegel .444, and Eryn Coppersmith .333. Pitchers Megan Radae and Eryn Coppersmith each collected a win, with Radae holding opposing hitters to a .167 BA and sporting a 0.00 ERA. Mallory Rutz (SS), and Eden Coppersmith (C & 1B) were tough on defense.
BLACK WIDOWS '97 TAKE 3RD IN TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA - 10/21/12
The Widows won their first 5 games enroute to a 5-1 record and a 3rd place finish here in the Gravy Boat Open College Exposure Tournament. The Widows beat a strong Southern Indiana Heartbreakers team 14-5 in their opener, then reeled off 4 more wins over the Indiana Terror 15-4, Indiana Attitude 8-1, and twice over the Wabash Valley Fusion (In.) 10-0/12-2. The Southern Indiana Heartbreakers came back to best the Widows in the semi-finals 11-10 in a wild game that saw the Heartbreakers up by 5 in the last inning. The Widows with 2 outs, loaded the bases and Hayli Green hit a Grand Slam to put the Widows within 1, but that's all they would get. The Widows put up some gaudy numbers offensively, including 16 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HRs and a .475 team BA. The list of top hitters is long, Lindsey Toenyes .667 w/3HR, Megan Radae .600, Eden Coppersmith .571 w/9RBI /4D, Sara Radae . 563 w/10R, Hayli Green .500 w/2HR /13RBI /10R, Sydney Schwegel .500 w/10R, Mallory Rutz .500, Alex Holten .417, Torrie Kruse .333, Tori Beachum .333. Pitching victories went to Eryn Coppersith (2), Tori Beachum (2), and Megan Radae (1). Beachum had a 0.75 ERA.
'97 WIDOWS FINISH 3-2 in 15TH ANNUAL ST. LOUIS SHOWCASE - 11/4/12
The Widows had a good showing in this huge college exposure event (123 teams from 11 states) held in Chesterfield, Mo. The Widows got off to a good start with a 12-6 win over the St. Louis Patriots. Playing a lackluster second game, they dropped a 9-0 decision to a very good Premier Fastpitch team. Played solid in the third game but lost 8-5 to a quality New Lenox Lightning team out of Chicago. Got back on the winning track in game four by beating the Missouri Firestix of Joplin 14-5. Last game was against a good St. Louis Fusion team. The Widows claimed a 5-3 victory by playing a quality game both offensively and defensively. The Widows hit well as a team with a .422 BA. Top hitters were Sara Radae .600, Eden Coppersmith .583 w/HR, Alex Holten .583, Megan Radae .545, Mallory Rutz .462, Sydney Schwegel .455 w/HR, Hayli Green .429 w/2T, and Torrie Kruse .308. The 3 wins were logged by pitchers Eryn Coppersmith (2), and Tori Beachum (1). Beachum held her opponents to a .190 BA. Megan Radae (LF), Hayli Green (CF), and Alex Holten (1B & 3B) all played strong defense.
THE BLACK WIDOWS '97 COLLECT FOR THE SALVATION ARMY - 12/1/12
The Black Widows '97 team was out in force today helping the Salvation Army collect money for the needy. All 11 players were in attendence at the Wood River Wal-mart, covering all 3 entrances. The weather was nice and the girls enjoyed the time spent together as they wished everyone a Merry Christmas and helped raise money for a very worthwhile cause for the surrounding communities. Thanks girls !
BLACK WIDOWS '97 ARE CHAMPS IN PEKIN - 1/6/13
The '97 Widows won their first indoor tournament of the winter, the NSA Snowball Classic at the Avanti's Dome in Pekin, Il. The Widows were awarded a berth to the NSA "A" World Series, which they passed on to the second place team, because they already have a berth to the World Series in Chattanooga, Tn. The Widows pretty well just walked through this tournament hitting .516 as a team and carrying a 1.05 team ERA. The Widows won 5 straight games to take the title, recording wins over the Caledonia Chaos (Michigan) 14-2, Downers Grove Outlaws 14-0, Will County Crushers (Joliet) 8-0, Plainfield Twisters 8-3, and the Caladonia Chaos again in the championship 13-0. There were plenty of good hitters for the Widows, Lyndsey Toenyes .667, Sydney Schwegel .615 w/HR /3SB, Torrie Kruse .600, Megan Radae .600, Tori Beachum .600 w/3D, Eryn Coppersmith .583, Hayli Green .545 w/HR, Sara Radae .437 w/3D, Alex Holten .417, Mallory Rutz .400. Pitching victories were claimed by Tori Beachum (2), Eryn Coppersmith (2), and Megan Radae (1). Megan Radae and Beachum both had a 0.00 ERA and they combined to throw a no-hitter in the Will County Crushers game. Beachum then threw a no-hitter all by herself in the title game. Sara Radae (2B) was tough on defense.
BLACK WIDOWS '97 ARE 3RD IN PEKIN - 2/17/13
The Widows second trip to the Avanti's Dome didn't come out quite as well as the first. The Widows started off with 4 straight wins over the Orland Park Magic (Chicago) 7-2, Invasion Elite 12-2, New Lenox Power Orange (Chicago) 6-1 and McHenry County Heatwave Black 9-0. But when they reached the semi-finals they ran into the Wasco Diamonds '96 another very good team out of the Chicago area, and that's where their run to the title contest ended 8-2. Top hitters for the Widows were Mallory Rutz .571, Hayli Green .545 w/HR, Eden Coppersmith .500, Lindsey Toenyes .455 w/2HRs, Sara Radae .375, Sydney Schwegel .357, Torrie Kruse .333 w/2HRs, and Eryn Coppersmith .333. Pitching victories were notched by Tori Beachum (2), Megan Radae (1), and Eryn Coppersmith (1). Megan Radae held her opponents to an .059 BA and had a 0.00 ERA. Beachum had a 1.91 ERA. Eden Coppersmith (1B & C), Sara Radae (2B), Megan Radae (LF), and Hayli Green (CF) were all sharp in the field.
GOING GETS TOUGH IN INDY FOR THE '97 WIDOWS - 2/24/13
The Widows ran into some very tough competition at the SportZone in Indianapolis. Right out of the chute they draw one of if not the best Gators team (and there are several) out of Indianapolis. It ends up being a pitchers duel with the Widows pitcher Tori Beachum only allowing 3 hits and the Gators pitcher only giving up 2 hits, both to Megan Radae. With the score tied at 1 in the last inning the Widows get a walk move the the runner to second on a fielders choice then bunt for a base hit to move the runner to third. The runner at first steals second and when the Gators throw on the stealing runner the ball gets away and the runner from third scores the winning run. Big 2-1 win over a great team ! The second game is against another tough team the Indiana Shockwaves. Another pitchers duel but this time the Widows come out on the short end 3-2. The next team is a very beatable team, but the Widows don't seem to be on their game and lose 5-2 to Mafia Fastpitch (In.). Not too many top hitters here as the pitching was very good and we may have left our hitting shoes at home. Megan Radae .500, and Sara Radae .333. Tori Beachum won the only game and held opposing batters to a .143 BA and had a 1.11 ERA. Defensively the Widows were strong commiting only 1 error in the 3 games.
Land of Lincoln / UIS College Exposure - Springfield, Illinois
Oct. 7 The Hitting Center Black (16U) (Springfield) W - 16-5 1-0
Oct. 7 East Peoria Express (18U) W - 11-4 2-0
Oct. 7 Mid-Illini Mayhem (16U) L - 4-3 2-1
October Blast Tournament - West Frankfort, Illinois - Rained out on Sunday
Oct. 13 Southern Illinois Lady Bullets (18U) W - 8-3 3-1
Oct. 13 Mattoon Pride (18U) L - 3-0 3-2
Oct. 13 Southern Express '96 L - 7-6 3-3
Oct. 13 Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs (16U) W - 7-0 4-3
Gravy Boat Open College Exposure - Terre Haute, Indiana - 3rd Place
Oct. 20 Southern Indiana Heartbreakers W - 14-5 5-3
Oct. 20 Indiana Terror W - 15-4 6-3
Oct. 20 Indiana Attitude W - 8-1 7-3
Oct. 20 Wabash Valley Fusion (Indiana) W - 10-0 8-3
Oct. 21 Wabash Valley Fusion (Indiana) W - 12-2 9-3
Oct. 21 Southern Indiana Heartbreakers L - 11-10 9-4
15th Annual St. Louis College Showcase II - Chesterfield, Missouri
Nov. 2 Patriots (Missouri) W - 12-6 10-4
Nov. 2 Premier Fastpitch (Illinois) L - 9-0 10-5
Nov. 3 New Lenox Lightning (Chicago) L - 8-5 10-6
Nov. 3 Missouri Firestix (Joplin) W - 14-5 11-6
Nov. 4 St. Louis Fusion (Matt Alvarado) W - 5-3 12-6
NSA Snowball Classic - Pekin, Illinois - Champions
Jan. 5 Caledonia Chaos (Michigan) W - 14-2 13-6
Jan. 5 Downers Grove Outlaws W - 14-0 14-6
Jan. 6 Will County Crushers (Joliet) W - 8-0 15-6
Jan. 6 Plainfield Twisters W - 8-3 16-6
Jan. 6 Caledonia Chaos (Michigan) W - 13-0 17-6
NSA Presidents Day Classic - Pekin, Illinois - 3rd Place
Feb. 16 Orland Park Magic (Chicago) W - 7-2 18-6
Feb. 16 Invasion Elite (Cumberland County, Illinois) W - 12-2 19-6
Feb. 17 New Lenox Power Orange (Chicago) W - 6-1 20-6
Feb. 17 McHenry County Heatwave Black W - 9-0 21-7
Feb. 17 Wasco Diamonds '96 (Chicago) L - 8-2 21-8
ASA Northern National Qualifier - Indianapolis, Indiana
Feb. 23 Indiana Gators (Lloyd) W - 2-1 22-8
Feb. 23 Indiana Shockwave L - 3-2 22-9
Feb. 24 Mafia Fastpitch (Indiana) L - 5-2 22-10
