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Last updated
12-28-09 04:23 PM
 
Palmdale Little League
(661) 285-2166
P.O. Box 900732
55th Street East & Avenue R-4
Palmdale, California
93590
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Thursday, August 18
2005 World Series Big League Softball - With berth in final four assured, District 51 shakes off tough loss
With berth in final four assured, District 51 shakes off tough loss
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Thursday, August 18, 2005.
By STEVE UNGREY Special to The Valley Press
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A little southern cooking spoiled Antelope Valley District 51's chances to finish Big League Softball World Series pool play with a perfect record. If Antelope Valley had to lose, however, at least it came with nothing on the line. Today the records are wiped clean and four teams will start over on a quest to take home the world-championship banner. Antelope Valley is one of those teams, as Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Charleston, West Virginia did not end its title hopes. Now comes the fun part. Just like it can get maddening when breaking down things like National Football League teams with playoff possibilities or which teams are still in baseball's wild-card hunt, who Antelope Valley will play next is what manager Scott Rutledge is figuring out. The four-team playoff field has not been set yet, because a game between the Philippines and Michigan District 2 was suspended due to darkness after nine innings with the teams tied at 1-1. The game resumes at 7:30 a.m, and the bracket will be determined afterwards. Whatever the outcome, Rutledge was happy to be back in the bracket round after a three-year absence. "That's a plus for our team," Rutledge said. "These girls will come back pretty strong. West Virginia was a pretty tough team to face today, the pitching was fine and their girl kept us off balance." Allison Judy only struck out three Antelope Valley hitters, but she gave up just five hits. What killed the team's chances at a perfect record were errors. After playing fairly spotless ball in wins over the Netherlands, Michigan District 2 and the Philippines, Antelope Valley coughed up five errors in one game. "Hopefully we can pull through this and get ready for today," catcher Rebecca Zapata said. "I think we definitely had the harder of the two pools, but we finished with a pretty strong record and hopefully this helps us out." Antelope Valley took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, as Brooke Stix singled and later scored on a base hit from Zapata. The bottom fell out for Antelope Valley in the top of the third, as Judy and Taylor Abbott both scored via errors. The back-to-back miscues cost Antelope Valley needed momentum. "We just made some crucial errors, had a few overthrown balls we should never have made," Rutledge said. Depending on the outcome of the Philippines-District 2 contest, Antelope Valley's game will be played at either 12:30 p.m. or 3 p.m. Pacific time. The likely opponent is either Delaware District 3 or Hallettsville, Tex., but that will not be determined until today. Zapata will take the loss, shrug it off, and prepare to face the semifinal round along with the rest of her team. "I can't really say what it feels like right now after we lost our last game," Zapata said. "But it's a great feeling knowing we have the chance to play for the championship. Going 3-1 in pool play is a great experience."
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