The Velocity girls wrapped up their Fall season with a 14u Championship in the Gulfport "Fall Classic" this weekend. The girls were 5-1 on the weekend out scoring their opponents 32-7.

The girls wrap up the Fall season with a 26-4 record. Placing 1st in 3 out of 4 14U tournaments and winning the USFA 12U Monster Mash tourney in Shreveport, LA. Congratulations ladies on a great Fall.

VGC will host a "FREE ENTRY FEE" tournament on Nov. 6-8th at Reinike Park in Long Beach, MS. The park is located only four miles from the Gulfport Sportsplex. We have 40 teams entered this weekend. Please call 228-424-7545 for more information.

Velocity 12U played this weekend in Shreveport, LA in the 19 team USFA tournament. The girls went undefeated thru pool and bracket play with wins over the LA Rippers 97, LA Storm Elite, Anderson Express 98', and beating Anderson Express 97' twice. They will take the weekend off and play 14u at the VGC Free 4 All, Nov 7-8th in Gulfport.

Velocity 10U finished 5th out of 18 teams this weekend. The girls won out on Saturday beating Arkansas Thunder 99, Anderson Express 00, and Anderson Express 99 in the late game. On Sunday we lost 3-2 to East TX Sneaky Cleats and Anderson Express 99. It was a good weekend for the 10u girls as we were able to see the kind of ball we are capable of playing. They will also prepare for the VGC Free 4 All, Nov 7-8th.

The 12U girls were named Co-Champions in the 14U High Voltage tournament this weekend in Hammond, LA. The girls were undefeated thru bracket and pool play.

The 10U team was still in as they lost their first bracket game in ITB Saturday night, 4-3. They would win their first two bracket games Sunday morning before the rains came. Ashlynn Williams pitched 4 1/3 innings in the secound game striking out 13.

The ladies will take the coming weekend off before playing in Clinton on Oct. 17-18th.

What a fun weekend as the Fall season started with a bang. The Velocity Girls played good ball against some tough teams defeating Mobile Thrillers 95', LA Fireballs, LA Havoc, and Triple Threat.

The girls defeated the La Fireballs in the championship game 3-1.

More details to come later in the week.

 The girls will be back on the field this weekend starting the Fall season. We are all so excited as the organization will field 3 teams this year. Our 12U team will be playing in the 14U age group this weekend in a strong field of 2nd year teams.  This will be the first 10U tournament for our younger teams. We have an enthusiastic group of kids and are looking forward to seeing how the girls have improved.

We are very excited as we had 26 10U girls come out for Fall Tryouts. This prompted our organization to field two 10U teams for the Fall season. The 12U team returns coaches Randy Bishop and BJ Barnes. The two 10U team head coaches will be  Marty Lavander and Tommy Castanedo.

If you would like more information about the Velocity organization please contact  228-424-7545.

The girls wrapped up the 2009 season with a 3rd place showing at the USFA Southern Nationals in Gulfport, MS. The tournament saw the girls play three pool games then enter bracket play seeded 2nd in points behind West Mobile Express from AL.

Our first pool game was against the Orange Crush from Orange, TX. The Crush was coming off of a runner up showing in the USFA TX Class A State Tournament. Velocity got on the board in the first inning when Kaleigh Powell drew a lead off walk before Liz Zorich and Darby Bishop would move her around to score. In the bottom of the second Crush would get on the board with 2 runs on 2 hits. The girls battled back as Jaycee Walker would start a rally in the 3rd with a single to left center followed by hits from Simone Mckinney, Powell, and Bishop to score 4 runs. VGC would tack on another run in the 4th to end the game. Erica Lewis and Madison Burge were in the circle and combined on the win. VGC would win 6-3.

In our second pool game we played the Lady Astros from Victoria, TX. The Astros won the USFA TX Class B State Tournament. This was one of those games that much did not go right for VGC. We gave up 3 runs in the first inning on a Hit batter and two VGC errors. The third and fourth innings resembled the same as errors and BB's allowed the Astros to score 6 un-earned runs. Offensively the girls would wait to the 5th inning when they scored 5 runs on 5 hits. VGC would lose 8-5.

Our last pool game was probably the best ball we played all weekend. Madison Burge and Brooke Barnes threw the ball well as they split on a two hitter. Offensively Zorich, Bishop, and McCray paced Velocity each collecting two hits along with Castanedo, Burge, and Mckinney each collecting a hit. Timely hitting was the key as VGC wins 4-1.

On Thursday afternoon, VGC opened bracket play against High Intensity from Niceville, FL. The girls jumped out early with a 8 run first inning. That was all that Lewis would need in the circle and she would complete the game with a one hit shutout. VGC wins in 3 innings 10-0.

Friday morning saw the girls facing Nitro from Nacogdoches, TX. What a great ball game, The Nitro pitcher was on her game as Castanedo and Burge would collect the only 2 hits in 5 innings for Velocity. Nitro would get a runner on in the 3rd with a lead off walk. They would then move her to 3rd on a sacrifice fly with two outs. A single to right field would be the game winner as Nitro would score the only run of the game. VGC loses 1-0.

In our 3rd game we ran into the Louisiana Extreme. The Extreme came to the tournament as the USFA LA State Champions. The Extreme would score two runs in the top of the 2nd on two singles, and load the bases with two outs. Then the rains came and washed us out for the remainder of the day. We started back on Saturday morning with 43 minutes left in the game and the bases loaded. Lewis quickly got a ground ball out to secound base and the girls were coming to bat. In the bottom of the 2nd Castanedo would lead off with a BB, then Burge followed with a double to right center scoring Castanedo. Natalie Hogue then followed with another single to tie the game at 2-2. The game would stay scoreless till time expired in the bottom of the 4th inning. Taylor Chandler would lead the inning off with a towering pop up between shortshop and centerfield that the shortstop would misplay and let it drop. Hogue would then move her to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt. The Extreme would then intentionally walk Powell to create a force play at any bag. Liz Zorich then hit a sharp double to left center for the game winner scoring Chandler. VGC wins 3-2.

With only 4 teams remaining in the tournament we would run up against the Orange Crush again. This time the Crush was coming for us. This game was won in the circle as Lewis would pitch another shut out allowing only two hits in four innings. The girls played flawless defense behind her. On offense we would not score till the 3rd inning when Powell would start the inning with a slap hit double to left field. Zorich would move her to third on a ground ball to 2nd, and Bishop would bring her in on a sharp hit ball to the first baseman in which she was playing really deep behind first base. VGC wins 1-0.

In the semi final game we ran into our friendly rivals again from West Mobile. The Express lost to the Nitro team 1-0 just as we had early in the tournament. The girls jumped out quick with two runs in the 1st inning behind hits from Bishop, a triple from Brittney McCray, and singles from Lewis and Castanedo. W Mobile Fired back with one run the 1st and 3 runs in the 2nd to take a 4-2 lead. In the the next two innings we just could not get anything going as we threatened both innings but could not get a run across the plate. VGC loses 4-2.

The Velocity Girls had a great season finishing 75-21. They played their best ball at the end of the season as they improved thru the year. If you combine the girls 12U Fall season record at 28-4 the girls played 128 ball games. We all are really proud of them and the commitment they have made this year to improve their game.

Here are some of the girls accomplishments this year:

*12U USSSA Fall Louisiana State Champions

*7-1st place finishes

*5- 2nd place finishes

*4th place at the USFA World Series out of 93 teams participating

*3rd place at the USFA Southern Nationals

Sunday morning before opening ceremonies the girls got in an hour and half of practice at Frank Brown Park. All the pitchers got some work in along with all the girls seeing some live pitching and running thru all our hitting drills. Sunday evening the girls traded pins with the other teams then loaded up and went and played Goofy Golf and spent some time walking on the beach.

Monday morning saw our first pool game against a familiar team we had played twice during the year, the LA Rippers 96’. For those of you that don’t know the Rippers have handled us pretty good in two prior games and this game would not be much different. The Ripper pitching would only allow 2 hits collected by Emma Castanedo and Madison Burge. Our pitching looked good only giving up 3 hits, however couple that with three errors and we would lose the game 5-1.

Tuesday morning a totally different Velocity Team showed up to play our 2^nd pool game as we would face the TN Tornados. The scouting report on the Tornado’s was they had two excellent pitchers and played very good defensive ball. They had also just recently won the TN State “B” tournament. The Tornado’s jumped out to a 2-0 lead till the 2^nd inning when the Velocity bats would wake up with a lead off hit from Castanedo then a double from Erica Lewis, Burge would follow with a double to score Lewis from second base to tie the game. In the third Simone Mckinney would lead off with a slap hit to 2^nd base to start the inning. Simone would then steal 2^nd and 3^rd base before Kaleigh Powell would hit a sacrifice fly to score Simone for the go ahead run. In the third inning the girls would tack on another run when Taylor Chandler hit a ball into the right center gap to push Castanedo across for the 4^th run of the game. In the 5^th inning saw the girls score two runs when Natalie Hogue reached first base on a single to left field followed by a double from Brooke Barnes. McKinney and Jaycee Walker would move both Hogue and Barnes around to score another two runs. In the circle Madison Burge pitched two innings followed by three shutout innings from Brooke Barnes. Velocity would win 6-3.

In our last pool game we faced off with the North Alabama Cats. The Cats had two pitchers that could really bring it. However, we like pitchers that throw hard. The girls jumped on them in the 1^st inning with a double from Liz Zorich and hits from Brittney McCray, Taylor Chandler and Erica Lewis to score three runs in the first inning. We were not finished as in the second inning Hogue, Barnes, Zorich would load the bases when Darby Bishop cleared the bases with a huge double. In the circle Lewis, Castanedo, and Bishop would only allow one run on two hits as VGC wins 7-1.

Wednesday was our first bracket game against the 96’ Nighthawks from Murfreesboro, TN. The girls played very well in our last two pool games and expectations were high. The girls would take a 2-0 led into the bottom of the 5^th with hits from Castanedo, Lewis, Hogue, and Bishop. In the bottom of the 5^th we committed  two errors to allow the Nighthawks to tie the game. In the top half of ITB we were not able to execute to score a run. The Nighthawks were able to win the game in the bottom half of the 6^th inning 3-2. With the opening lose the week was not looking to good.

Thursday was a long day as we would play Sudden Impact from Fort Walton, FL and win 9-0. Bishop and Burge would combine on the shutout. The 2^nd game was against Sweet from Burleson, TX. The girls would get on the scoreboard first from a lead off single from Zorich and a double from Bishop. They would follow up with another run in the second inning when Lewis would get hit by a pitch and a double from Burge. In the 5^th the girls would add 2 more runs with hits from Powell and Bishop and McCray, Castanedo, and Lewis would move them around. On the mound Castanedo would pitch 3 innings allowing one run and Lewis would pitch the last two innings collecting the save. Velocity wins 4-1.

In the night cap we would face the TX Knockouts. We had heard about the Knockouts as the team was made up of the old East TX Longhorns that had won the 10U World Series in 2007. I think this “Fired” the Velocity girls up as we won the coin flip and elected to hit first. The girl’s bats were on fire scoring 9 runs in a 35 minute first inning. We collected 8 hits with three BB’s during the inning. The Knockouts also hit the ball very well putting 7 runs on the board in the 2^nd inning but it just was not enough . VGC would win 10-7 and advance to play on Friday behind the arm of Lewis in the circle. The girls would have to now win 4 ball games on Friday to advance to Saturday’s Gold Bracket.  

Friday morning came early as we opened against Panama City Lady Lightning. The Velocity Girls would tie the game 1-1 until the top of the 4^th inning when the bats would wake up. Barnes started the inning with a single, followed by singles from Zorich, Bishop, and Lewis. Before the inning was over the girls would push four runs across the plate for a 5-1 score. The Lightning would get only one more run in the bottom of the 4^th inning. Bishop and Burge combined for the win allowing 3 hits and only two runs. VGC wins 5-2.  In the 2^nd game of the day matched us up against the team that beat us in the opener, the 96’ Nighthawks. This time it was going to be a different ball game as the girls fired first with 2 runs in the 1^st and another 2 runs in the third before scoring another 3 runs in the 5^th inning. Zorich, Bishop, McCray, Castanedo, Lewis, and Hogue all collected multiple hits in the game. On the hill, Brooke Barnes would pitch 4 innings allowing four runs and Burge would finish the game in the 5^th as VGC would win 7-6.  The 6:30pm game saw the girls playing the Arkansas State Champions, Arkansas Elite 96. The girls played a great defensive game with no errors. The girls pushed six runs across the plate in three innings with 3-3 hitting efforts from Bishop and McCray, and doubles from Lewis, Chandler, and Barnes. In the circle Castanedo would pitch the first inning and Lewis pitched the last two innings. Velocity wins 6-3.

The Friday night cap saw VGC up against LA Rippers 96. They were the only team standing between us and the Gold Bracket. We had played them three times previously and had not beaten them yet. The girls were up to the task as we would put 4 runs on them in the first inning with a two out rally. Bishop, McCray, and Lewis loaded the bases before a single from Castanedo and a huge double by Chandler to bring them all in. On the mound Lewis threw one of her best games and she would only allow 1 run, three hits,  6 strikeouts and no walks.  VGC wins the game 5-1 and as they say, “You don’t have to win them all, just the ones that count!”

After getting finished playing at 10:30pm Friday night the girls had to be on the field at 7am Saturday for the first Gold Bracket Game. Our  opponent was Georgia Extreme 96’ from Locust Grove, GA. What a great game as Powell would start the game with a slap hit and a stolen base. McCray would then single to drive in Powell to take an early 1-0 lead. The game would stay 1-0 till the 3^rd when Zorich would start the inning with a single and a hard hit ball to third from McCray and a bunt from Lewis to load the bases with one out. Castanedo then singled to left field to score Zorich for the second run of the game. GA Extreme would try to make a run in the 4^th inning, however a double play line drive back to Lewis on the mound ended the inning. Lewis gave up one run on four hits for the victory. Velocity wins 2-1.

In the 2^nd Gold Bracket game Lewis would be back on the mound against the TX SWAT. SWAT won the 11U USSSA World Series in 2008 and came into the Gold Bracket winning their bracket. SWAT’s starting pitcher kept the Velocity bats quite till the 5^th inning. The Slow and Low pitching style definitely had us off our game. However, Zorich opened the top of the 5^th with a double and SWAT immediately pulled her and put in their ACE throwing much harder. Three of the hardest hit balls of the weekend came next as Bishop almost took off the 1^st baseman’s head with a line drive down the line, McCray hit a 190’ bomb to left, and Lewis hit a ground rule double when the ball went under  the right center field fence. That was all that Lewis would need for Velocity to win 5-2. Lewis would only give up two hits, striking out 5 in the game.

Next up the 96’ Lil Lady Warriors. The Warriors were fighting thru the loser’s bracket just as we were. The girls would put one run on the board in the first on a single from Zorich and a double from McCray. The Warriors put two runs on the board in the 2^nd inning after two walks a sac bunt and one hit. The girls came back in the third with two runs on hits from Zorich, Lewis, and Chandler  to  go ahead 3-2. The Warriors scored one run in the bottom of the third to tie the game.  In the bottom of the forth the Warriors would score one run to win the game 4-3 and eliminate us from the tournament.

The Warriors would go on to win the tournament followed by 2^nd place Miken Heartland Rage, 3^rd place went to the TN Tornados which we had beaten earlier in the week.

It was a great week for the girls as they finished 4^th out of 93 teams in the 12U Bracket. They won 9 straight games coming thru the loser’s bracket after dropping  the first game of the tournament. We are very proud of them as they truly showed how well they can all play together.

The girls were 11-3 on the week and now carry a 70-18 record heading  into the USFA Southern Nationals July 28- Aug 2 in Gulfport, MS.

Great Job Ladies and Go get them at Nationals!!

Mr. Pope Davis lost his battle with Cancer today. Madison's grandfather loved watching her and all the girls play each weekend. Everyone could always hear Pope shouting words of encouragement to the girls. Please keep Mrs. Davis and the family in your prayers.

Funeral arrangement are Friday, 11am. Rieman Funeral Home, Three Rivers Rd, Gulfport.

Burge Family mailing address is: 15733 South Fork Dr., Gpt, MS 39503

We will miss you Pope.

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