Heartbreakers Gold: Tournament Summaries

The Heartbreakers finished in 3rd place in the gold bracket in the PA softball Memorial Day tournament that included thirty 18U teams from several surrounding states and Canada. After going 4-1-1 in pool play Saturday and Sunday, the HB's grabbed the 7th seed for Monday's elimination round. In the Gold bracket: 

• To get things going - Patti Maloney tossed a one hit shutout and knocked in 2 runs to down the Quebec Rebelles 5-0.  Maloney's battery mate, Ally Breeden went 3-4 with a double and RBI and everyone contributed with good defense while 7 other players collected hits. Katie Sebanne had the defensive play of the game turning a double play on a grounder to third, she raced back to the bag for the force, then with her weight moving backward, gunned a laser throw across the diamond for the double play.  
• The HB's then beat the Maryland Stars 7-0 as the shutdown pitching continued as Autumn Appleby blanked them on a 2 hitter. The top of the HB batting order was hot as Megan Baker, Tori Conrad, and Breeden (3 RBI) all had 2 hits, and Taylor Belivins drove in 2 with a single.
• Unfortunately this was the end of the road as the HB's fell to Wagners 7-4 in the semi-final despite Breeden's continued onslaught with a triple and a HR (probably all of 250').  Breeden was 7-10 batting on the day with 6 RBI. For the tournament, the all-around defense and pitching of Appleby, Maloney and Nicole Ayers were big as the HB's only gave up 6 runs in their first 8 games before the Wagners loss. Pool Play Highlights - the HB's were missing 3 players on Saturday who all were successful in winning their state championships (Kaylee Krietz and Carly Farr - Catoctin, and Katie Sebbane - Urbana):

• HB 7 -  PA Alley Cats 0: the HB's got off to fast start behind Appleby's  2 hitter. Blevins was 2-3 and Rachel Teti was 1-3 with a double and RBI. Baker who had an on base percentage over .700 for the tournament, scored 3 times, and Appleby doubled in a run ("and she can pitch too").
• PA Heat 1 - HB 0: Tough luck loss for the HBs as PA Heat pitcher from Shippensburg college tossed a two hitter.  Maloney pitched a one hitter and took the hard luck loss on an unearned run in the 4th inning. The HB's had a chance with back to back hits by Blevins and Conrad, but they were stranded.
• HB 2 - NJ Avalanche 1: Nicole Ayers pitched a 2 hit gem for the win as Kaelyn Ashway and Baker collected hits and scored the 2 runs, Blevins had 2 hits and Maloney singled.
• HB 8 - Farquier Freeze 0: Madi Ambush went 2-2 with a triple, 2 runs and an RBI; Baker had another 2 hits, and Blevins, Breeden, Farr, Maloney and Sebbane all cranked out hits.  Appleby and Maloney combined for the shutout.
• HB 2 - Lehigh Valley Fury 2:  The HB's gave up 2 runs in the first inning on a hit, 2 walks and an error, but then shut down the Fury.  The HB's couldn't get their bats in sync managing only 4 hits (Baker, Blevins, Maloney, and Teti).  Baker reached on an error on a bunt and raced home as the ball sailed over the 1B head, down the RF line, making an excellent slide around the catcher to avoid the tag, and then lunge back to touch the plate for the tying run.
• HB 12 - PA Poison 2:  The HB's closed out pool play on a fine pitching outing by Ayers, and the HB's bats were out as Farr was 3-3 (2R, 1 RBI); Breeden, Baker, and Ambush all had 2 hits and Conrad, Ashway and Sebbane had hits.  Krietz picked up 2 stolen bases as she had 5 over the weekend.

The Heartbreakers Red went undefeated in 5 games at the Newtown Rock Gold Showcase at Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ.  Below are game summaries:

HB Red 1 -- Central Mass Rapids Gold 1

HB Red tied the Rapids 1-1 as Autumn Appleby scattered 3 hits and struck out 6 batters.  Jade Bowins led the team with 3 hits and Breanne Lohman added 2.   

HB Red 7 -- CT Eliminations 3

The Heartbreakers got off to a big start with a 4 run first inning and beat the Eliminators 7-3.  In the first, Bowins singled and advanced on a sacrifice by Megan Baker.  Karson Tuck doubled home Bowins with the first run.  Jessie Trammell doubled to score Tuck.  Rachel Teti finished off the scoring with a long 2-run homerun to center field.  HB Red scored 2 more times in the 3rd inning when Baker singled, Tuck was hit by a pitch, and Allysen Breeden had an RBI single.  In the 5th, Bowins singled and later scored on a wild pitch.  Appleby got the win with allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and striking out 1 batter.  Patti Maloney got the save with 3 innings of 1 hit shutout relief with one strikeout.   

HB Red 2 -- NJ Gators 0

Maloney picked up the win in a 2-0 shutout over the NJ Gators as she allowed 1 hit and struck out 4 batters.  Appleby got the save with as she tossed 3 scoreless innings allowing 3 hits and striking out 2.  Bowins had 2 hits to lead the offense.  Lohman scored the first run after walking, advancing to third on singles by Taylor Blevins and Gator Ball, and scoring on a wild pitch.  In the top of the 7th, Carly Farr singled and scored on a long single by Lohman with a heads up hustling play.  

HB Red 2 -- TX Glory 0

HB Red picked up another victory with a 2-0 win over the Texas Glory.  Appleby got the win with 3 innings of shutout pitching.  Maloney preserved with shutout with 3 innings of 2 hit reliief.  In the first, Bowins walked, stole 2nd, and scored on Trammell's single.  In the 3rd, with 2 out and nobody on, Baker, Tuck, and Trammel singled to load the bases.  Allysen Breeden drew a walk to force the final run of the game in.   

HB Red 3 -- Conklin Raiders Gold 1

Maloney and Appleby combined for another victory over the Conkling Raiders Gold in a 3-1 win.  Maloney retired all 9 batters she faced and struck out 2 to begin the game.  Appleby allowed one unearned run the rest of the way to get the win.  Baker singled and scored on an error in the 1st inning.  In the 4th, Bowins singled, advanced on a sacrifice by Baker and scored on a Tuck double.  In the 5th, Teti singled and scored on a grounder by Blevins for the final margin of 3-1.

The Heartbreakers Red finished 2^nd in the 30^th Annual Pennsbury Invitational in Yardley, PA.  Pennsbury is one of the most prestigious college exposure events in the country with 64 teams participating and 180 college coaches in attendance.  The team went 3-0-1 in bracket play and advanced in single elimination before losing in the finals to the Pennsbury Gems Gold.  Below is a summary of each game:

HB Red 1 – IL Trevians 1

The Heartbreakers tied the Trevians from Illinois.  HB Red scored first in the 3^rd inning as Gator Ball walked and advanced on walk to Jade Bowins followed by a sacrifice bunt by Megan Baker.  Karson Tuck drove Ball home with a deep fly ball to center field.  Autumn Appleby threw 3 shutout innings and struck out 3 batters.  Patti Maloney finished the game with 3 innings allowing 1 unearned run.

HB  Red 5 – MA Polar Crush Gold 3

Three singles and  two Crush errors produced 3 runs in the 4^th inning to put HB Red up 3-2.  In the 5^th, Tuck followed a Baker single with a long 2-run homer for a 5-2 lead.  Baker had 2 hits and scored 2 runs.  Maloney picked up the win with 3 innings of outstanding pitching holding the Crush to 2 run as she struck out 2.  Appleby got the save with 3 innings of work allowing 2 runs and striking out 3 batters.

HB Red 7 – Ontario Oakville Angels 0

The HB red jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead when Jade Bowins and Baker led off with hits and Jessie Trammell tripled to score 2 runs.  In the 5^th, the top of the order got it going again when Bowins  and Baker singled and Tuck drove in a run with a single.  Trammell followed with a long homerun to left field for a 6-0 lead.  Ball singled in the 7^th and scored on a wild pitch to complete the scoring.  Appleby threw 3 shutout innins allowing no hits and striking out 4 batters.  Maloney finished the game with 4 strong shutout innings allowing 5 hits and striking out 9 batters. 

HB Red 4 -- Nor Cal Assault Gold 2

The Heartbreakers beat a strong team from Northern California 4-2 behind the strong pitching of Maloney and Appleby.  Maloney allowed 1 run in 3 innings on 3 hits and 2 strikeouts.  Appleby got the win with 4 innings allowing just 1 run on 4 hits as she struck out 3 batters.   Maloney and Ball had back to back doubles in the 3^rd inning to produce 2 runs.  In the 4^th, Tuck and Trammell singled and scored on a throwing error and a Carly Farr long sacrifice fly for the final runs. 

The 3-0-1 record in the bracket play earned the team a first round bye in single elimination play.  In single elimination play:

HB Red 5 – MA Polar Crush 3

Down 1-0 going into the bottom of the 4^th inning, Baker led off with a single followed by walks to Tuck and Trammell.  Rachel Teti drew a walk to plate the first run and Carly Farr crushed a long double to left field to score 2 more runs.  Taylor Blevins grounded out to shortstop to score Teti with the 4^th run.  In the 5^th, Ball walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tuck.  Appleby got the win as she pitched 3 innings and allowed 1 unearned run on 1 hit.  Maloney finished the game with 4 strong innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits as she struck out 2 batters.

HB Red 10 – Nor Cal Assault 2

HB Red scored early and often in this rematch with the Assault.  Allysen Breeden doubled in Tuck who had singled in the first for a 1-0 lead.  Farr and Blevins hit back to back doubles and scored on a wild pitch and a RBI groundout by Maloney for a 3-0 lead.  In the 4^th, Breeden singled and scored on a long double by Teti to right center field.  Ball and Baker singled in the 5^th and later scored for a 6-0 lead.  In the 6^th, a walk by Bowins and singles by Teti, Maloney, Ball, Baker, and Tuck plated 4 more runs for the final outcome.  Maloney pitched 3 scoreless innings with no hits allowed as she struck out 3.  Appleby finished the game with 3 innings allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and struck out 1. 

HB Red 1 – PA Pennsbury Gems Gold 5

The Heartbreakers lost a hard fought game to the Gems 5-1 in the championship game.  Blevins singled and scored on Bowins’ hit for the only HB Red run.  Appleby threw 3 innings of 1 hit shutout ball as she struck out 3.  Maloney finished the games allowing 5 hits and struck out 1. 

A thunderstorm prevented the completion of the Late Summer Invitational at Williamsport on Sunday.  The HB Red was warming up for the semi-final game when the storm hit.  The final results were based on Saturday's seeds from the remaining 4 teams.  The team was awarded 2nd place. 

The 18U Heartbreakers Red won the Stop DWI Tournament of Champions in Binghamton, NY, last weekend.  It was the 4th tournament championship of the season.  This tournament is one of the most prestigious college showcase tournaments in the country.  They went 2-1 in bracket play and 4-0 in single elimination play in the Gold Division.  Below is a summary of each game.

Taryn Ashway pitched a 4-hitter and struck out 3 to get the win.  Jade Bowins reached on an error and scored on a passed ball in the first inning.  Rochelle Christman walked, advanced to 3^rd on Erin McNally’s single, and scored on Kali Ball’s sacrifice fly.  Karson Tuck singled and scored on Ashway’s double to complete the scoring.

Wagner’s scored 5 runs in the first inning and held on for the win.  Amy Metcalfe had 3 hits to pace the offense. 

Ashway scattered 6 hits and struck out 6 in the victory.  Tuck had 3 hits and Metcalfe, Ashway, Christman, and Katy McNally each had 2 to pace the offense.

In the first elimination game, Ashway  fired a 3-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts.  Metcalfe and Christman had 3 hits, and Tuck and Ashway each had 2 hits. 

Kim Anders pitched a 4-hitter and struck out 4 as she  shut down the Belles in an 8 inning affair.  Tuck and Breanne Lohman each had 2 hits.  Tuck drove in the only run with a single in the bottom of the 8^th to plate Erin McNally with the winning run. 

Ashway held the pride to 3 singles and struck out 4 in the shutout victory.  The only run came in the first inning when Tuck singled and scored on Ashway’s long double to left-center field.   Ashway and Tuck each had 2 hits.

In the championship game, Anders scattered 6 hits and struck out 2 as the Heartbreakers beat the Raiders in 8 innings.  Christman had 2 hits to lead the offense.  The Heartbreakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first as Lohman hit a long bases loaded single off the fence to score Bowins and Metcalfe who had walked and singled.  The Raiders tied the game in the 7^th to force the game to go to the International Tie-Breaker where each team starts with a runner on 2^nd base.  The Raiders scored one run in the top of the 8^th but the HB Red came back to score to 2 for the win.  After Tuck reached on an infield hit and Ashway singled to left, Lohman hit into a force at home but the catcher’s throw to first was errant allowing Tuck to score.  Ashway then scored on Katy Bobbitt’s grounder to 2^nd as the throw was not in time at the plate. 

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