Select "Teams" from the menu and find out more about our teams at 14U, 16U, and 18U.

Just In!  Lemont Rockers (Didi) Win National Championship!

The Rockers took the championship in a 5 to 1 game against the Minnesota Sting Elite.  Complete results at www.molineasa.com .

Angels 18u Go 1 - 4 (1 -2) at USA/ASA National Championships

When is a 1 – 4 record great?

 When you’ve put your heart and soul into each game.

 When you’ve played with the best competition in the country.

 When you’ve been in every game to the last out.

 When you’ve achieved what few teams ever achieve – playing in the USA/ASA National Championships for the 18u National Championship. 

 From the 2,354 ASA Class A 18u teams competing for a berth in the National Tournament in 2008, only 120 teams made their way to play for the ASA 18u National Championship this past week in Moline Illinois.  The 18u Angels are proud to have been among those selected to represent the Chicago Metro ASA.

Opening ceremonies were held in the 12,000 seat I-Wireless Center on Sunday July 27th.  The Angels' entry into the arena was broadcast on the 10 PM local TV news.  It was the start of a surreal week.

Monday July 28, the Angels battled the Lady Falcons from Dacula, Georgia in warm-up pool play.  The Falcons qualified for the National tournament by going undefeated to win the South-Atlantic Regional Qualifier in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  For 6 innings, the Angels, with Eleanor Kennedy in the pitching circle, held a 2 – 0 lead.  But in the top of the 7^th the Falcons managed 3 runs, two coming on a two out bloop single that kicked up the chalk on the right field foul line just beyond the outstretched gloves of three converging Angels . . . a game of inches.  In the bottom of the 7th, with two outs and Kristen Look and Caiti Dolan on base, Falcon second baseman Callie Fernandez made a diving stab of Rosie Wysocki’s shot through the right side and from her knees threw Wysocki out by half a step at first to save the win for the Falcons . . . truly a game of inches.

In the second warm-up game on Tuesday July 29, the Angels took on Team FLA 18U-Leyshon who qualified for the Nationals through the West Central Florida National Qualifier.  Hitting was the name of the game in this contest with Team FLA prevailing 8 – 4.  The Angels rotated three of their pitchers (Cicale, Salzman and Inglis) in this game in preparation for the double elimination tournament which began Wednesday July 30.

In the opening round of the double elimination tournament, the Angels took on the Arizona Sun Cats (Glendale, AZ).  The Sun Cats made their way to the Nationals by going undefeated in the Arizona State tournament.  In a well-played, hard fought contest, the Sun Cats prevailed by a 3 – 0 margin to drop the Angels to the loser bracket.

Next up for the Angels was the Central California ASA Champion, the Rockets (Mendoza) from Clovis, California.  The teams battled several scoreless innings before the Angels blew the game open for a final of 7 – 0 Angels.  Amanda Johnston drove in 3 runs, Karissa Inglis contributed two doubles for a run and an RBI, Rose Wysocki went 2 for 4 scoring once and driving in a run, Caiti Dolan drove in a run and later scored herself, Jori Cicale had a single and a double, Lindsey Thielmann contributed an RBI, Erin Salzman scored a run, Kim Skierkiewicz went 2 for 3 scoring the first run of the game, and Kristen Look contributed a sac bunt to move Kim into scoring position and later singled and scored a run herself.  The Angels defense was flawless behind Karissa Inglis who scattered 4 hits with 2 walks over 7 complete innings.

In what turned out to be their final game of the tournament, the Angels took on the Midland Magic (Glen Carbon, Illinois).  The Magic qualified by winning the ASA National Qualifier in Indianapolis, Indiana.  In the opening stanza, the Angels scored first with 2 runs on singles by Wysocki and Dolan.  Wysocki scored from third on a ground ball by Inglis to short stop.  Dolan scored on a passed ball.  The Magic tied the game in the 3^rd on two hits and an Angel error.  The Angels came right back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning with Wysocki, Dolan and Inglis scoring.  Johnston and Langlois contributed RBIs.  The Angels held the 5 – 2 lead until the 5^th when the Magic scored 3 of their own on 3 hits and an Angels error to make it 5 - 5.  In the top of the 7^th the Magic took the lead as their lead off hitter reached on an error, stole 2^nd and 3^rd and scored on a sacrifice fly.  The Angels were unable to score in the bottom of the inning leaving the final Magic 6 Angels 5.  Eleanor Kennedy pitched extremely well for the Angels giving up but one earned run on 3 hits while striking out 6 and walking no one.  Final Illinois Angels 5 runs 6 hits 5 errors,  Midland Magic 6 runs 5 hits no errors. 

From the opening ceremony to the final out, it was a great experience for the Angels, one which relatively few Fastpitch players have the opportunity to savor.  Up to date tournament results are listed at www.molineasa.com .

The week was not without some very sobering moments.  On Monday night, an assistant coach for a New Jersey team passed away in his hotel room.  Then on Wednesday afternoon Coach Jim Didi of the Lemont Rockers suffered a heart attack as he drove toward his hotel after the Rockers first elimination round game.  Didi died shortly thereafter – a real shock and loss felt especially by his Rockers and the other Chicago Metro teams.

Wednesday evening, the Rockers were scheduled to play their second game in the winner’s bracket.  The Rockers players elected to play on as Coach Didi would have wanted them to do.  The Angels joined other Chicago Metro teams in attending the Rocker’s Wednesday night game – a show of respect, support and caring for Coach Didi and the Rocker’s players, assistant coaches and fans.  For the remainder of the tournament, the Angels wore ribbons in the Rocker's team colors on their jerseys in honor of Coach Didi, "the big guy."

Didi was a great competitor and a great supporter of girls fastpitch in the Chicago area.  He will be missed.