Gilroy's Chaos Fastpitch Spooks Their Opponents

The 12U Chaos Fastpitch-Santiago team goes undefeated in the ASA Halloween Bash in Salinas this past weekend to take the Championship away from 19 teams in their division. 

During Saturday’s Pool Play, the teams were encouraged to dress up in costumes.  Santiago’s Chaos team disguised as “biker chicks” went on to defeat the LGSGSA Magic 7-to-1, the Magnum Force 4-to-0 and the Lady Sharks 8-to-2. Even though the team went 3-0, Chaos ended up the number two seed in Pool A due to a tie-breaker rule.

Heading into the playoff bracket early Sunday, Chaos would have to defeat 3 teams to make it into the championship game. Chaos started the run by defeating Sunnyvale Shockwave 6-to-1. Game two against the Lady Sharks ended in victory with a score of 12-to-33. 

Chaos then met up with, and defeated, the Nor Cal Legends 3-to-2 in the semi-finals. The championship game would be against the Salinas Storm-Homer team. 

In previous meetings, the Salinas Storm has edged out the Chaos—but that was not the case this time. The Chaos attacked the Salinas Storm in the first inning of the Championship game. 

Singles by Amber Herrera and Brittney Gitmed placed runners in scoring position when Juliana Santiago hits a two RBI double deep down the left-field line. Solid defense kept the Storm from scoring with the power of Herrera at catcher throwing out an attempted steal to second, along with the quick thinking double play by Santiago at shortstop to Janelle Hoskins at first base, achieved their 2nd and 3rd outs of the inning.

The bats remained silent and the defense was solid for both teams through the second inning. In the 3rd Emily Boykin popped a single into shallow-right field and was able to score when Gitmed bashed an RBI double. 

The bottom of the 3rd also served the Storm well as they marched back with a couple of singles that put two runs on the board.

As dusk came upon the field in the 4th inning, Emily Fredricks and Alyssa Lerma singled their way onto base, but were stranded. The Storm tried to rally with the heart of their line-up, only to be brought down 1-2-3. 

The score remained Chaos 3-Storm 2 into the top of the 5th when Boykin was walked, and stole second base putting her in scoring position. Herrera smashes an RBI triple into deep center field scoring Boykin. Herrera scores off a sacrifice fly from Gitmed. 

The Storm tried to fight back in the bottom of the 5th, when a single and an error placed runners on base with 2 outs. A line drive back to the pitcher, Fredricks, ends the drive for the Storm leaving the score Chaos 5-Storm 2.

Chaos tried to improve upon their lead in the top of the 6th with a single into center field by Lindsey Buessing, and a walk from Lauren Klauer. Olivia Moore dropped a beautiful bunt, but the Storm catches the runners trying to advance which keeps Chaos from scoring. 

The big play in the top of the 6th had Storm coming to the plate with new energy, and they placed two runners in scoring position. Hopes quickly faded however for Storm with two fly balls caught in left field by Buessing, and a one hopper to Fredricks who made a quick toss to Hoskins on first base to end the inning. The score remained Chaos 5-Storm 2.

Chaos tries to build on their three-run lead in the final inning. Boykin, the first up to the plate, bangs out her 2nd single of the game followed by a walk from Herrera. 

A sacrifice RBI by Santiago brings in Boykin, then a single RBI by Fredricks sends Herrera home. The score is Chaos 7-Storm 2. 

In true Chaos fashion the ladies finish off the bottom of the 7th and final inning with groundouts to Lerma at third and Santiago at shortstop. Fredricks struck out the third and final batter of the championship game. The final Score, Chaos 7- Salinas Storm 2.

Throughout the two-day, seven-game event, the Chaos truly showed a team effort. The pitching duties rested in the hands of Emily Fredricks, Juliana Santiago, and Lindsay Baker (only allowing 12 runs with 16 strike outs combined), while Amber Herrera and Analisa Sanchez protected the plate.

The outfield was anchored by the shared efforts of Brittney Gitmed, Olivia Moore, Lindsey Buessing, Lauren Klauer, and Fredricks who all came up with clutch catches. 

On the infield with solid defense, Alyssa Lerma covered 3rd, Emily Boykin covered 2nd, Janelle Hoskins and Baker shared the duties at 1st, and Herrera and Santiago shared the duties at shortstop. Top hitters for the weekend were Amber Herrera (.625 batting average) and Emily Boykin (.563 batting average).

The Chaos organization is a fastpitch softball club for Gilroy. All girls are 12 years old and attend local schools.