July
29, 2005
-
18U Texas Blast Gold coached by Verde and 18U Texas Eclipse coached by Ken Glass met in a 8:00 pm
Friday night game in the Blue Division Bracket at Ford Complex in the AFA North American Championship in Beaumont, Texas
to decide the Bracket champion. Texas Blast Gold reached the Winner's Bracket game by defeating Texas San Antonio
nightmare (6-1), Oklahoma Storm (7-0), Texas SMI Texas Steelers (5-3) and California Runnin. Texas Eclipse beat
the Sugar Land Shock, Southern California Select (6-0), Texas Smash (1-0) and Texas Cy-Fair Intruders Parrish (2-0).
The game was scoreless until the 5th inning. With one out, Blast Heather Warren hit a line drive over Eclipse
short stop Stephanie Estrada's head. Melissa Verde then doubled scoring Heather. Lauren Parker hit a line drive
to short stop Estrada for out No. 2. Deseri Griffin reached first base on a throwing error by the Eclipse
third baseman. Melissa Verde scored on the play bringing the score to 2-0. Megan Godwin struck-out to end the
inning.
Melissa Verde scored again in the 7th inning. She hit a line drive in the left center gap for a single.
Lauren Parker reached first base safely on a sacrifice bunt. When Melissa was going to 2nd base on Lauren's
bunt, Melissa kept going to 3rd because no one was covering the 3rd base bag. The 3rd baseman had come up
for the bunt. Deseri Griffin popped up to the left fielder for out No. 1. Megan Godwin drew a walk. Bases
were loaded. Melissa scored when the short stop fielding Karli Hubbard's grounder threw wide to catcher Lana
Bowers in an attempt to get the force at home.
Cody Trahan recorded the shut-out on the rubber. Cody is a 2006 graduate and has already verballed to
LSU. She had 13 strike-outs in 7 innings. Cody ony gave-up 2 hits and walked two batters.
Amanda Crabtree and Maranda Bishop got the two hits for the Eclipse in the 6th inning. With one out, Amanda
Crabtree hit a line drive down the first base line for a single. Maranda reached first on a bunt. Amanda
got picked off at 2nd base by Blast Catcher Jessica Lemoine for out No. 2. The next batter struck-out to end
the inning.
Anna Whiddon and Kristi Malpas shared the pitching duties for the Eclipse. Anna pitched the first 4 innings
and to the first two batters in the 5th inning before being releieved by Kristi. Anna relieved Kristi in
the 7th inning. Anna had 5 strike-outs and gave-up 1 walk and 7 hits. Kristi had two strike-outs and gave-up
2 hits and walked no batters.
Melissa Verde, Lauren Parker, Jessica Lemoine each had two hits. Melissa had a double in the 5th inning and a single
in the 7th inning. Melissa scored two runs. Lauren had a double in the first inning and a bunt single in the 7th
inning. Jessica hit a line drive to center field in the 2nd inning for a single and line drive in the left
center gap in the 6th inning.
Deseri Griffin, Tiffany Autry and Heather Warren each had singles. Deseri hit a line drive in the left center gap
in the 3rd inning. Heather hit a line drive in the left center gap in the 5th inning. She eventually scored.
Tiffany Autry hit a Texas Leaguer over the short stops head for a single in the 6th inning.
The Runnin Rebels eliminated Texas Eclipse in the Blue Looser's Bracket. Blast defeated the Runnin Rebels to reach the
Championship Sunday where the 4 undefeated winners from the Blue, Purple, Green & Red met each other. The North
American Championship Final Four teams were Illinois Stone City Sharks (Purple), Texas Blast Gold (Blue), Tomboys
(Green) and Houston Poweer Gold (Red). Blast Gold beat Houston Power and then the Tomboys from Wylie, Texas to win the
2005 North American Championhsip on Championship Sunday.
|
