July 5, 2001 - The 16U-A ASA Houston Metro Championship Tournament began play
Thursday night. In a 7:00pm game, Texas Explosion played Hit Away. Hit Away had just got back from winning the 16U NFCA Fireworks Tournament in Aurora Colorado. As a
consequence they were a little flat. Megan Gibson from Spring started the game for Hit-Away on the mound. Megan walked Sylvia Harris and then struck-out Krista Sitka for the first out.
Brittany Tucker and Brandi Washer drew walks to load the bases for the Explosion. Brett Moody then struck out swinging for out number two. With two strikes and a ball on Kristi Martinez, Megan hit Kristi in the left thigh, walking in Sylvia Harris for a 1-0 Explosion lead. Hit-Away brought in Amanda Scarborough (from Magnolia) to relieve Megan. Amanda struck out Kezia Wingo for out number three.
It was Hit-Away's turn at bat. After Amanda
Scarborough grounded out to the pitcher and Natalie Ramirez walked, Megan Gibson helped get the run back
by hitting a rocket shot line drive to the center fielder who mishandled the ball and dropped it. Megan was safe at second base and Natalie was safe at third. Natalie then got caught in a run down between third and home for out number two. Christa Raley then hit a grounder between third base and short stop for a double driving in Megan Gibson. Kelly Carliss flew out to the short stop for out number three.
Hit-Away slipped passed Explosion in the second inning. Bridgett Fuentez from Tomball hit a grounder to Brandi Washer but the first baseman couldn't come up with the catch at first. Tracy Quosig moved Bridgett to second base with a sacrifice bunt to the third baseman for out number two. Nicole Collins flied out to the short stop. Allissa Harper reached first base on a error by the short stop, Brittany Tucker. Amanda Scarborough then hit a grounder to Brittany Tucker, but the first baseman pulled her foot as she was catching the ball. Bridgett scored on the play to give Hit-Away a 2-1 lead. Natalie Ramirez ended the inning by flying out to third.
Hit-Way added insurance runs in the third inning. Megan Gibson lead off with another blast, a rocket shot line drive to left field for a stand-up double. Christa Raley then hit a grounder to Brandi Washer (third baseman), who fake the throw and got Megan in a hot box. Megan coaxed a throw and then dove head first around the outside of the
3rd base bag safely around the tag. Christa took advantage of the run down and was safe at 2nd base. Kelly Carliss popped up to the catcher for out number one. Bridgett Fuentez struck-out for out number two. Tracy Quosig then hit a Texas Leaguer to right field that scored Megan and Christa. Nicole Collins grounded out to the short stop to end the inning.
Hit-Away added three more runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to win by the eight run rule, by a score of 9-1.
Megan Gibson, Christa Raley and Allissa Harper each added singles in the 4th inning. In the 5th inning, Laura Jackson hit a single up the middle. Nicole Collins struck out for out number one. Allissa Harper flied out to the 2nd baseman and then Amanda Scarborough put the game away with a fly that hit the top of the fence and bounced over for a home run.
Amanda Scarborough faced 14 batters, struck-out five, walked none and gave up a single to Brittany Tucker. In the 3rd inning, College Sports Exposure radar Amanda's fastball at a consistent 61 mph.
Holly Patterson pitched the entire game for Explosion. Holly struck-out three batters, walked none and gave up 8 hits.
After the game, I asked Manager Darren Gibson about the Fireworks Tournament. Darren said, "there was 40 teams from 15 states competing in the tournament." "Hit-Away never left the winners bracket and ended up with 6-0 record."
"Hit-Away defeated the South Gwinnett Comets from Georgia by a score of 3-1 in the final game to win the championship." "Megan hit 5 homeruns and Amanda hit one."
I then asked Darren to sum up tonight's game. Darren said, "that we came out flat tonight, probably because of the big high from Aurora, but fought back and pulled the game out." "We may also have been flat because we played 12 games last week." "It was nice to win the game in a big way with Amanda's home run." "we have 3 or 4 leaders that helped pick-up the team." "The girls complained tonight about it being hot." "It was just as hot in Colorado, but not as humid."
I told Darren, that I radar Amanda Scarborough at 61 mph tonight. Is that the speed she usually throws? Darren said that, "both Amanda and Megan
usually throw their fastball at 62 and 63 mph."
In other action Thursday night, the Katy Cruisers defeated Texas Image 2-0 and South Houston Mystixx beat Spring Klein Velocity by a score of 5-1.
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