June
24, 2001 - Spring-Klein Hawks, which shut-out the Texas Force Gold
4-0 in the championship game of the ASA 18-and-under National Qualifier
at Katy on Sunday, will now advance to the 64 team ASA National Tournament at
Marietta, Ga., on Aug. 3. The Hawks are the third Greater Houston and Texas
team to qualify this summer for the trip to Georgia. Houston Storm and the
Katy Cruisers are the other two teams.
"This tournament was a great tournament with great competition. We played
35 innings and gave up two earned runs. The difference makers were on the
mound for us! Our hitting picked up as the tournament progressed. Later in the
tournament, we benefited from several clutch hits," Spring-Klein Hawks Coach Dick
Haskel summed up his team's accomplishment!
The Hawks won five games in their route to the championship.
Friday night they shut-out the Texas Vipers 1-0.
Christina Gwyn got the win on the mound. She
had 10 strike-outs. Saturday morning, the Hawks shut-out Houston Power 1-0.
"Amy Bradford totally dominated the game. With bases loaded from three errors
with a one run lead, Amy pitched out of the jam," Coach Dick Haskel said. Then
the Hawks shut-out Montogomery County Elite 3-0. Christina Gwyn got the win.
Amy Bradford was on the mound for the Hawks when they shut-out Texas Force
Gold 4-2 in the Winner's Bracket Final.
As a consequence, Texas Force Gold then played the winner of the looser's bracket,
the Tomball Hawks. This 1-0 game was decided in the 5th inning when the Force's Laura
Belt singled to left field. Then short stop Kassie Rezza hit a hard grounder to pitcher
Lyndsey Wright. Lyndsey's throw to first was off target and Laura scored from 2nd base.
Kassie reached 3rd base. Danielle Faulk then grounded to short stop Deserea Griffin who
threw her out at first base to end the inning.
Lyndsey Wright pitched the whole game for Tomball. Melissa Walker started for the Force
and Stephanie Herrera finished the game.
In the championship game, the Spring-Klein Hawks took a 2 run lead in the first inning. Sarina
Noack singled to left field. Annie Beckendorf sacrifice bunted Sarina over to 2nd. Then on a
sensational play, the Force's Laura Belt caught a Jessica Wheeler pop-up foul almost in the batter's box
for out number two. But then catcher Lyndsay Leftwich hit a long fly ball to deep left almost to the fence
and the outfielder drop it! Sarina scored on the play and Lyndsay was safe at 2nd base. Dick Haskel substituted
Angie Johnson in to run for Lyndsay at second because Lyndsay was a catcher! Staci Ramsey then hit a line
drive double to left fielder scoring Angie. Lisa Lawler then grounded out to the short stop Kassie Rezza
to end the inning.
In the second inning, Lyndsay Leftwich (Northwestern State University in Louisiana) added a sensational
defensive play of her own! With two out, Force's Katie Ferrell popped a foul almost into the backstop.
Lyndsay performed a split and caught the pop-up at the fence just like Dottie in the "League of It's Own."
In the 3rd inning, Laura Belt added another sensational play when she leaped high to catch a high line drive
down the 3rd base line hit by Annie Beckendorf. Laura was involved in 7 of the 21 outs by the Force.
In the seventh inning, the Hawks added two insurance runs. From the left side Sarina Noack slapped a
grounder to the short stop and beat the throw to first base for a base hit. She then stole 2nd base on the next play.
Annie Beckendorf was out when she bunted her third strike foul. Jessie Wheeler then hit a hard line drive
to Laura Belt that deflected off her wrist into foul territory. Laura shook off the pain and retrieve the ball. Sarina
stole 3rd base because no one was covering the bag. Sarina then scored on a wild pitch by the Force's Crystal
Oblinger to Lyndsay Leftwich. Lyndsay popped-up to the 2nd baseman for out number two. Staci Ramsey
then singled up the middle to score Jessie Wheeler. Lisa Lawler flied out to the center fielder to end the inning.
Christina Gwyn from Big Spring pitched all 7 innings for the Hawks. She had two strike-outs, 1walk and limited
the Force to 4 hits. Laura Belt, Katie Ferrel, Stephanie Herrera and Danielle Faulk each singled for the Force.
In the 4th inning of the hot summer day, College Sports Exposure
radar Christiana's fastball at 61 mph.
Stephanie Herrera started the game on the mound for the Force and took the loss. She was relieved in the 4th
inning by Crystal Oblinger.
Stephanie had a strike-out, two walks and gave up a single and a double. Crystal scattered 6 hits and gave up a walk.
Sarina Noack was 3 for 4, Jessie Wheeler and Brooke Hooser each had a single and Staci Ramsey had a single and
a double for the Hawks.
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