The 14u Firecracker Fury start off the Fall season going un-defeated in their first 14u Tournament, and earning NSA National Berth.
The Fury battled all weekend and won the tournament in dramatic fashion in a thrilling 8 inning game, won in the second inning of ITB when Brooke blasted a shot over the centerfielder to bring home the winning run. Lauren pitched great earning the victory, and the team defense was fantastic in the 4-3 win over the resilient NH Hammerheads. Brooke, Blondie, Charli and Mcnugget led the offense with 7 hits between them.
In the semifinal, Alyssa started the game and was un-hittable for 5 innings, as the Fury took command of the game. Krista and Blondie each pitched an inning to wrap up the game against the Smash.
The Fury went 3-0 in the Pool games to earn the top seed, with 2 shutouts in the three games. Blondie, Krista, Alyssa and Lauren all pitched well.
This weekend, the laides will be playing in the tournament run by our 16u Fury sister teams' Firecracker Autumn Classic in Dracut where we will look for back to back Fury sweeps, as Randys ball club captured the 16u title this weekend in Lowell! Great job Randy and the 16u Fury!!!
Thursday 7/24...The Firecracker Fury earned a ton of well deserved respect and praise by battling every out in each and every inning all week, but the ladies came up short in the Semifinal against the Central PA Krunch. The Fury finished the PONY Nationals with a 9-1 record and a Third place finish.
In the Elite 8 round, the Fury faced the New Era Diamonds from up-State NY and this game was a classic from the get go. Charli blasted her second HR in 2 days in the first to stake the Fury to 1-0 lead, and again the defense was awesome. Brooke, Lugnut, Mac, Krista, Britt, Galen all made great plays to keep the lead. Krista was outstanding and kept the Diamonds off balance all game locating her pitches with great precision. Up 2-0 in the top of the seventh, the Diamonds responded with a leadoff double, and Lauren came into the game to try and close it out, but the Diamonds battled and got some big hits and the defense couldn't comeup with the big out and we ended tied 2-2 and onto the ITB. Trailing in the game for the first time in the bottom of the 8th, the Fury were down to there last at bat with McNugget up and trailing 3-2, she crushed a run scoring single to keep the game alive and send it to the 9th inning. This game was why you play the game as it had everything you could hope for in watching these young ladies battle, and the 9th was the icing on the cake for the Fury. Once again trailing, this time 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th, down to our last at bat again, Brooke was called upon again to deliver, as she hit a 2 out bomb triple to right-center to score the run--she was 5 for 5 in this game!. On that play, the Diamonds desperate to end the game had two players dive for the ball in the gap and they collided, and un-fortunately ended up getting badly injured and taken off the field. Great hustle and effort by the Diamonds and our hats are off to them as they were a classy group of players, parents and coaches. After the lengthy delay, the pressure was on Lugnut to deliver as Brooke as at 3rd representing the winning run, and Lugnut blasted a single to win it in the most thrilling game any of us have been part of!
Completing the Michigan Finesse Sweet 16 game Thursday, the Fury were up 7-3 in the top of the 7th when the wheels started to fall off. The Finesse battled hard and came back to take a 8-7 lead but the Fury never give up and showed there resiliency once again. With a walk to Ally to lead off the inning followed by a hit by pitch for Mac, Brooke came to bat with a chance to extend the season, and she delivered with a huge single up the middle to score both runs and win the game 9-8..what a comeback.
Wednesday 7/23...The Fury dispatched the New Caanan Storm in the Bracket Final to lock up the Bracket Winner seeding heading into the Sweet 16. Charli continued her torrid hitting by blasting her 1st career Homerun to pace the effort. Lugnut, Brooke, Mac and Britt were once again spectacular in the field, with Brooke and Lugnut making many sensational plays. Krista was great in the circle allowing only 2 hits and 1 run in the 10-1 victory. Next stop..Sweet 16. In the Sweet 16 opener the Fury came out flat in the first inning and gave the Michigan Finesse a run with some sloppy play, but the ladies came right back and scored 3 runs to take a commanding lead. McNugget was lacing the ball and Lauren was on her game. The Fury had a 5-2 lead in the 4th when the game was suspended due to the weather.
Tuesday 7/22... The Fury won their 6th straight game at PONY Nationals to clinch a coveted spot in the Sweet 16 with a resounding 5-2 victory over the previously un-beaten Wadsworth Grizzlies from Ohio. Lauren was once again dominant in the circle and the defense was again flawless. The ladies came through with the bats as Charli had huge triple and Brooke and Blondie bombed doubles. McNugget was great behind the plate, throwing out 2 runners at second trying to steal.
Monday 7/21 ... In the first game of bracket play the Fury beat the New Caanan Storm from Connecticut 4-1 for their 5th straight victory. Lauren pitched another gem and had a couple of big hits. Mac made some fantastics plays in left, including a great backup play at third where she threw out the runner trying to score. Charli crushed the ball and played great behind the plate and the infield was great again.
Sunday 7/20... After opening the PONY Nationals with 1-0 victory over Lou Gehrig Lazers from NY, the Fury had a long day Sunday, playing the first game at 8am and after the long weather delay, the last game of Pool play at 7pm. The ladies battled all day and came out victorious in all 3 games to finish 4-0, earning the #1 seed heading into Bracket play.
The first game was a 11-9 slugfest against the Jersey Diamond Girls highlighted by Lauren's 240 ft bomb over the fence in Center. Britt started the game and got the W. Everyone was hitting the ball well as we had 16 hits in the game.
In game 2, the ladies battled the Ohio Emeralds to a 10-3 win. Krista pitched very well to get the victory and everyone was hitting the ball well again, and Lugnut and Brooke were all over the field making plays defensively.
In game 3, the combination of Lauren's bat and arm led the way against the Banshees, and again Brooke, Lugnut, Krista and Britt were flawless in the field. Mak made a great catch in left with the bases loaded to kill a threat. Lauren hit her second long Homerun of the day, this one off the scoreboard in left, breaking some lights at the Field of Dreams complex field 1. Final score was Fury 9 Banshees 1.
Saturday 7/19... The 12u Firecracker Fury battled the Lazers in a well played game, and got the winning run in with some timely hitting from Krista and Mac. Lauren was dominant in the cirlce allowing only 2 hits and 1 walk. The defense came through with great plays to keep the Lazers off the board. The rust from 2 weeks off effected the bats as we left runners in scoring position in every inning. The ladies will look to pick it up a notch as we have 3 games Sunday to wrap up pool play. Stay tuned for more....
All game scores are posted at pony.org
