ABGSL U10--Finding Their Groove

The ABGSL girls 10 and under (10U) Sting team placed fifth out of eleven teams over the July 4th weekend tournament going 4-3. The girls seem to be on a steady upward trajectory, continuing their timely hitting, heads up play and smart baserunning.

Visiting team Sting,  started out the tournament tentatively.  After not scoring any runs in their half of the inning, Sting struggled to get their groove.  Sting gave up one run to a wild pitch. However, in typical fashion, MacKenzie Andrew came back to strike out the next two batters stranding 2 runners on base.  

Sting started to come alive in the next inning as Kaitlyn Bailey walked on and then stole 2nd, 3rd and home to tie the game.  Sara McIntosh followed, by getting on  with a walk, stealing 2nd and advancing to 3rd on Eleven Thewlis’ bunt double.  Strike Zone tried a relief pitcher, with slower velocity, but may have been ill advised.  Daisy Paige hit an RBI single that  brought in both McIntosh and Thewlis, tying the score 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, Big Mac proved true to her name as she quickly struck out 3 hitters.  

In the 3rd inning, Bailey pounded a ball past the shortstop, while  Giahna Owens demonstrated the most solid base hit of her Sting career.  Daisy then smacked a double to CF and Jade Woo took over as pinch runner.  Sydney Taylor popped  a hit past the Shortstop and Dixie’s fine hit brought Woo in.  The score was now 7-1.  

Unfortunately, in the bottom of the 3rd inning, the Strike Zone decided to stop swinging, while the umpire was calling a tight strike zone.  Sting pitchers walked several batters all the way around the field.  The score crept up to 7-4.  

The top of the 4th inning started off strong with a triple hit by Andrew.  Solia Valentine was brought in and used her speed to fire in an excellent base hit.  Jade Woo grounded a ball to 2nd base for the RBI leaving a score of 8-4.  

Unfortunately, things fell apart for Sting in the final inning.  More walks turned into runs for the Strike Zone, who slowly crept back up to a tie and then a final winning run to end the game at Sting 8, Strike Zone 9.  Several girls reported to this reporter that Coach Kaneko said, “This team’s not better than you.”  They planned to hold on better in Game 2.

With the bleachers full of Sting U12 and U14 players cheering for young Sting, the ladies were energized.  Andrew drew cheers of glory after she hit a home run, the ball rolling to the fence.  Bailey hit a triple, then stole home to get the 2-0 lead.  

The bottom of the second, included many hits, walks and stolen bases to bring the score to 11-0. Jazmin Terry got to 1st on a dropped 3rd strike.

Andrew’s consistent and fast pitching combined with smart plays by Georgia Tomasik and Bailey in the infield, held the Renegades.  

In the top of the 3rd inning, Abby Kaneko hit a line drive past 2nd base which advanced Dixie Lewis 2 bases. Kaneko, who was clear that softballs aren’t soft after being hit in the eye at practice during the week, was then hit in the knee and needed to be replaced by Tomasik .

In the final inning, coaches mixed up the order putting McIntosh at 3rd and Thewlis at 1st. Though one run was given up, due to errors, Sting finished the game at 14-1.

In Game 3 Sting faced the San Lorenzo Heat for the third time in three weeks with the same results; losing 4-2.

The game was tied in the bottom of the second. On an overthrow by Paige on a steal of third, McIntosh, fielded the ball in left field and fired a one hopper to Paige who blocked the plate and got knocked over by the opposing pitcher while maintaining her hold on the ball. Said Paige, “She’s just so big, I fell over”.  The score remained tied 1-1.

Sting was in it till the end, coming up short in a fourth inning rally. Woo, pinch running for Bailey, scored on an bunt triple by Thewlis. But Heat pitching squashed the rally by striking out the next two batters. Overall, the game was a pitchers duel, with Andrew striking out 6 batters and the opposing pitcher striking out 9.

In Game 4, Dixie Lewis opened the game with an excellent at bat, fighting off strike three by fouling off several pitches and doubling down the left field line. Andrew and Thewlis followed with base hits and RBIs.

In the bottom of the inning, strong defense by Owens and consistent pitching by Lewis got Sting out of a bases loaded jam.

Turning the offense on in the top of the third, Sting took a 9-3 lead with strong hitting and aggressive base running and ended the game.

Game 5 was the  second round of the “Losers Bracket” and  Sting bats were chattering.

Speedster Jade Woo hit a grounder to short and took second on an overthrow. Sara McIntosh hit a popup between short and third - the Riptide fielders hesitated letting the ball drop and Woo made a run third. Drawing a throw to third behind her, she kept on going, dancing around McIntosh’s bat and gracefully stepping on the plate to score a run. McIntosh, who slid into 2nd during the play, injured herself and was replaced by runner Daniella Lane-Goldstein.  

Taylor, Terry, and Tomasik all crushed balls to the outfield during the game.  Andrew and Lewis struck out most of the Renegades during the 4 inning game.  In the final inning, Lewis threw out two batters at the mound, while Woo caught a fly ball in center field to help end the inning with a Sting 9-Renegades 1 win.  

The way the tournament bracket worked, if Sting lost to the Strikers in Game 6, they would end up going home. But wanting to play another day, Sting beat the Strikers 11 to 5.

In typical Sting fashion, the Lady Bees scored three runs off singles by Lewis, Bailey and Andrew. Multiple defensive mishaps also kept the inning going as the Strikers failed to field a few popups. Bailey made several defensive plays fielding grounders and tagging the runners out.

Highlights included a double by Andrew, and Lewis scoring from second on a grounder, sliding under the catcher’s body and tag. Tomasik made a  nifty defensive play by throwing the runner out at first after the ball deflected off Lewis for the final out.

The Sting magic could hold out no longer as the Hollister Blackjack beat Sting 15-4 in what would be their final game.  Overwhelmed by strong pitching in the 40+mph range and hitting by the Blackjacks, Sting was down 6-0 after the first inning. Sting looked dejected as the crowd cheered them on to have fun and get out of the inning.

The bottom of the first showed some promise as Bailey hit a solid ball to right field which looked like a double as it left her bat,  but was surprisingly caught by the right fielder which stranded Tomasik at third.

Nice defensive plays by Woo fielding shots hit up the middle kept the game respectable.  In the last inning, fans and players alike cheered together to keep momentum up.  Woo was the catalyst of a four run rally drawing a walk. Hits by Lewis and a bases loaded 2 RBI single by Bailey led to four runs which brought the game to a Sting 4-Blackjacks 15 loss for Sting.  

Sting U10 continues to impress their fan base with their hard work and talent.  They improve with every tournament and are developing their love of the game.  What could be better?