Slammers Softball Wins Gulf Shores Nationals

For the third time in three years, Skokie based Slammers Softball produced champions at a USSSA Nationals tournament. In 2021, the Slammers 14u team won the Great Lakes National Championships in Peoria, then last summer the Slammers 12u team won the Indiana Great Lakes Nationals in Evansville, Indiana. Finally, late last Friday on a sweltering summer night, the Slammers 16u team won in Gulf Shores, Alabama, giving that team their second win in three years at Nationals.

While led by #10, Tournament MVP Jayden Coppe (1.69 era for the tournament with 53 strikeouts in 33 innings and one no hitter during bracket play), and #72, Offensive Player of the Tournament, Madison Kruszewski (.474/.583/.579), contributions poured in from each team member: Grace Bush prevented a rally in the second Championship game with a stellar diving catch, Ashley Raczka stopped the bleeding in the first Championship game and set the table for the late inning rally that gave Slammers momentum going into the final game of the night, the dreaded if/then (if you lose then you have to play again) game, Amaya Kang dazzled fans with softball's version Carlos Santa's Smooth on display, Jenna Skweres awed all with her diving stops and timely hits, Mia Gurdak, again, provided the badly needed energy while flashing the leather at 1st base, Lily "Rockets" Burns set the table from the leadoff spot and chased everything down in center field, Emma Espinoza continually battled at the plate, wearing out the pitchers with foul balls and the umpires with questions, and Sophia Spanos shutdown play at 3rd while she provided much needed power from the 9 spot in the order. Though on the pup list (physically unable to play), Kelly McQueen and call up Ella Bush kept the bench alive through games being played in mid 90 degree temperatures that felt a whole lot hotter.

Congratulations to all of these fine young athletes and their families.

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