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TNL 14U Gold Takes 2nd at ASA Nationals!
Action photos from this event are now uploaded to the TNL Albums page. TNL opened the tournament with a one-hit, six-inning, 12-0 run-rule victory over the Bristol, PA Stompers in their opening game of the ASA 14U National Championships. TNL started the scoring in the 4th inning with a pair of runs, then added more in the 5th and broke the game open in the 6th. Laura Winter went the distance on the rubber, striking out eight, and TNL carried a perfect game into the 5th before an error and the Stompers' lone single of the game. TNL got off to a great start against the San Jose Sting after the Sting's lead-off hitter's ground-rule double in the top of the first went for naught. In the bottom of the inning, Courtney Craig singled and Victoria Jones blasted one over the fence to give TNL a 2-0 lead. Sting got back into the game on a pair of unearned runs, the second coming in the top of the 6th, but TNL scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the inning on a pair of singles and a bloop by Samantha Slavinsky behind 1st that was dropped by the Sting's 2nd baseman. Craig went the full seven innings for TNL. The West Bay Nuggets and TNL engaged in a classic battle, going scoreless until the Nuggets scored a run on a fluke "foul then fair" ball in the top of the 9th. In the bottom of the inning, with Jones on 2nd to start the inning, TNL manager Chris Facione made a bold move, sending Jones to 3rd on the first pitch. The startled Nuggets misplayed the throw from catcher and Jones scored on the play. After holding the Nuggets in the top of the 10th, TNL had Chelsea Troup on 3rd with two outs when Samantha Slavinsky took a two-strike pitch and singled into right field for the walk-off win. Thanks to the Nuggets for a well-played and exciting game, and to Minors Gold for their support, both in this game and throughout the tournament! With a young squad this year, they will be a force to contend with in 14U next year! The Frankfort Flames gave TNL another nail-biter, as they took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning. TNL answered in the 3rd on a single and stolen base from Craig, and an RBI double from Jones. After the Flames failed to score in the top of the ITB 8th, lightning forced a two-hour delay. When the teams could finally take the field again, Aliko Eddow started the action with a well-placed sacrifice bunt that moved Stephanie Chotkevys to 3rd. The Flames elected to walk Craig to face Jones, who with two strikes lofted a deep sacrifice fly to center field to easily score Chotkevys and end the game. Winter started the game for TNL and was relieved by Craig in the 7th. To secure their position in the final four of the winners' bracket, TNL faced the California Flames in a game that didn't even start until after 10:30 local time. Ending a long hitting drought, TNL scored three runs in the first inning and kept adding them as the game went on, highlighted by back-to-back home runs that included a stratospheric bomb from Jones and another from Jerrin Faasua. Craig had the Flames batters in knots through all five innings of the TNL run-rule victory. In the final two games of the winners' bracket, TNL defeated the Birmingham Vipers 16-4, then behind a lights-out pitching performance from Courtney Craig, recorded a perfect game in a 1-0 victory against the USA Athletics to complete the winners' bracket and advance to the championship game at the ASA 14U "A" Nationals in Owensboro, Kentucky. Unfortunately, the championship game didn't start until 10:30, and after a 7-2 loss, the "IF" game started at 1:00 am. What had been an advantage, getting some time off before the final game, turned into a disadvantage as the delay dragged out the final game. After spotting the USA Athletics a 6-run lead in the final game, TNL did manage a pair of 2-run rallys, but came up short in the end, losing 6-4. But looking at the impressive list of high finishers that TNL defeated, the girls of the 14U Gold squad should be nothing but proud of their accomplishments at this year's national championships. Thanks to Chris and Doug for their outstanding coaching, and thanks to all of you who were supporting the team from the bleachers or back at home. TNL will return five key contributors from this team to 14U next year, so the softball world hasn't heard the last from this bunch! |
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