The rain just want go away…..
VGC was back at it this weekend in Monroe, LA for the USFA Spring NIT. We were able to get three ball games in before the rains came Saturday evening. We played two very good teams in pool play. In the first pool game saw the girls taking on LA Steele. Brooke Barnes would get it started in the top of the 2nd when she drew a lead off walk then Madison Burge would move her to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt. Brooke would then steal third and score on a sacrifice fly. In the third, Velocity would score another run on multiple singles from Darby Bishop, Liz Zorich, and Erica Lewis to take a 2-0 victory. In the circle, Lewis pitched 2 innings recording three K's and no walks, Castanedo pitched 1 inning with 1 K, no walks. VGC wins 2-0.
In the second pool game we were paired up with the Rapides Rockets. VGC would get on the board in the bottom of the first with back to back doubles from Liz Zorich and Brittney McCray. In the 2nd, Madison Burge would single then move to 2nd on a pass ball. Hogue would then single to score Burge. On the mound Darby Bishop would work for two innings with two K's. Madison Burge pitched one inning with 1K. VGC wins 2-1.
Our first bracket game saw the girls drawing the LA Rippers 97'. Don't let the 97' fool you, they have a very good club with a pitcher that is very effective. The girls would put one run on the board in the first when Bishop would foul off four pitches to draw a lead off walk. Powell then executed a bunt to move her to 2nd. Bishop would steal 3rd and then score on an attempted pick off at third when the Ripper catcher overthrew the 3rd baseman. In the second innining, Lewis would lead the inning off with a hit thru the infield then Brooke Barnes would move her to second on a bunt. Castanedo then advanced Lewis to third on a ground ball to second. Burge would then deliver the two out single to centerfield to score Lewis. The big inning came in the the bottom of the 4th as the bats woke up. Brittney McCray would lead off the inning with a single and Lewis would hit a fly ball to outfield just out of the reach of the leftfielder. Barnes then executed another great bunt to move the runners to 3rd and 2nd. Castanedo would then beat out a ground ball to secound to score Lewis. Madison Burge then delivered a long fly ball over the centerfielders head to score both runs to put the game away. In the circle, Castanedo pitched 5 innings, four K's, 2 hits, and no walks. VGC wins 5-1.
Overall, in the three games we executed on offense very well and manufactured runs with great bunts and timely hits. Defenseively, our pitchers threw the ball well not allowing any Base on Balls with solid defensive plays in the field. Velocity will get ready for another 20 plus team tournament this weekend at the Gulfport Sportsplex as they run their record to 32-4 for the season.
