The Katy Crusiers went 9-0 in the71-team U18 ASA Gold National Tournament in Marietta, Georgia, including two games in pool play to repeat as National Champions. They are the first team to repeat.
The Katy Crusiers won the Championship game 5-0 against the California Cruisers. The game was decided in the 3rd inning.
Katy Taylor's Tina Boutelle, Sara Fitzgerald and Texas signee Tiffany Anders hit consecutive singles to load the bases. This forced California pitcher Summer Tobias to pitch to clean-up hitter Iyhia McMichael.
Iyhia McMichael hit a grand slam. Those 4 runs were more than enough for
Texas signee Cat Osterman, who struck out 10 in 5 innings. The Katy Cruisers added another run later to the 4-0 lead.
After the game, the ASA named Katy's Tiffany Anders, Tina Boutelle, Kelly Osburn and Cat Osterman first-team All-Americans.
The Cruisers beat the California Miner's Gold 2-0 in their first bracket game.
Texas signee Cat Osterman pitched a no-hitter, striking out 18 batters. Tina
Boutelle, Elkin' s Kelly Osburn and Coppell's Natasha Jacob led the Crusiers with two hits each.
In their next game, the Katy Cruisers beat Spring-Klein Hawks 5-0.
The Crusiers then beat the California Hot Stuff 2-0. Cat Osterman struck out 9 in 5 innings while allowing two hits. LSU's Kristin Schmidt finished the game, striking out two and allowing no hits. Offensively,
Tiffany Anders, Kelly Osburn and Stanford's Jessica Allister led the Cruisers with two hits each.
In the quarterfinal game, the Cruisers beat San Jose Lady Sharks 5-1. Osterman threw only 44 pitches and struck out 11 before being relieved by
Coppell's Nicole Denes. Leigh Ann Danos led the Cruisers with two hits. Tina Boutelle,
Mississippi State University's Iyhia McMichael and Episcopal's Meghan Sickler each delivered run-scoring hits.
Osterman and Riverside (Ca.) Sudden Impact pitcher Cori Van Dusten matched each other pitch for pitch through the first 5 innings. However, the Cruisers bats came live as soon as Marissa Berkes relieved Cori. Tina Boutelle led off with an infield hit, stole second and scored on a fielder's choice. McMichael reached on a three-base error, and Jessie Allister and Danos closed out the two-out rally with run scoring singles.
The Cruisers defeated the California Cruisers 1-0 in the Sunday morning winner's bracket championship game. Osterman pitched all 10 innings and struck-out 20 batters.
The Cruiser's pitching staff of Osterman, Nicole Denes and Kristin Schmidt allowed just one run in 7 games. Osterman won all 6 of her games, striking out 85. She did not allow an earn run.
Texas was represented by a total of 6 teams, all from the Greater Houston area. The Tomball Hawks (Magnolia) went 2-2 and tied for 17th place. Magic Gold (Missouri City) and Spring-Klein Hawks both went 1-2 and tied for 33rd. Texas Storm (Pasadena) and Impact Gold (Spring-Klein) tied for 65th place.
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