June
23, 2001 - Two exhibition games were held at the U18 ASA Gold National Qualifier at Katy, Texas on
Saturday June 23 between the Texas Storm and the Katy Cruisers. Coaches from Nebraska, Texas Tech., Baylor, Purdue, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge and probably others were present.
The Cruisers entered the games as the favorites because they had won the U18 ASA Gold National Championship last summer and as a consequence were already qualified for this summer's U18 ASA Gold National Tournament to be held in Marietta, Georgia. The Storm had qualified for this summer's U18 Gold National Tournament two weeks prior by winning the U18 ASA Gold National Qualifier held in Killeen, Texas.
The Storm proved that the Katy Cruisers are no longer the best team in the Nation and Texas
in this early part of the summer by winning both games. The Texas Storm won the first game by a score of 1-0 and the second game by a score of 7-1. It
is likely they will play each other
again this summer and the outcome maybe
different.
The first game was decided in the fifth inning with the Texas Storm at bat. Crystal Fullen
started the inning by flying out to the left fielder for out #1. Then the Cruiser pitcher Nicole Denes walked Krystal Patino. It was obvious that Nicole was trying to pitch around Krystal. Then Nicole walked Mollie Durfee. Lacy Howard from Clear Lake High School hit a rocket shot line drive right back at Nicole
who was just lucky to knock it down. With the bases loaded Lauren Dixon struck-out for out #2. Taryn Williams was then awarded 1st base after catcher's interference. Since bases were loaded, Krystal Patino walked home for the winning run. Le Clair Ebow then flew out to the second baseman to end the inning.
The Storm won the hitting part of the game as well. They had 4 hits while the Crusiers had 1 hit. Lacy Howard
finished the game with two base hits in two attempts. Lauren Dixon set the tone for the game by leading off the first inning with a single between third and short stop. In the second inning, Krystal Fullen hit a line drive in the gap between left and center field for a single.
Tina Boutelle got the only hit for the Crusiers.
She hit the ball in the gap between left field and center field in the sixth inning.
Senior Brittany Faske pitched three shut-out and no-hit innings for the Storm. She had three strike-outs and gave up two walks. She did an excellent job of spotting and mixing her fastball, curve and screw ball. She also
disguised her change well which was evident by the swings and misses by the Crusier
batters. Junior Sarah Lancour pitched the final three innings and gave up the single to Tina Boutelle. Sarah had three strike-outs and no walks. In the 4th inning, College Sports Exposure radar Sarah throwing her fastball at 62 mph.
The Storm backed up their pitchers with fine defense. For example in the 2nd inning, the Crusier's Natasha Jacob led off the inning with a
walk. Then Nicole Denes layed down a perfect bunt. Mollie Durfee pounced on the bunt and threw out Natasha
at 2nd base. The play took a lot of steam out of the Crusiers attack.
In the 6th inning, Lauren Dixon moved to centerfield to showcase her skills there and
Tara Lindsey from Jersey Village High School went to short stop. Emily
Lederer hit a high chopper over Sarah Lancour that initially looked like a base hit,
but Tara charged the ball and barely got Emily at first. Then on the next play, Sarah Griffin from Kingwood hit a hard grounder between 3rd base and short stop.
Tara dove got the ball, jumped up immediately and threw out Sarah at first.
Nicole Denes from Coppell pitched all six innings in the first game. Nicole had 6 strike-outs, and gave up 4 hits and two walks. Nicole's fastball was radar consistently at 62-63 mph. On two occasions, College Sports Exposure radar her fastball at 66 mph. Her change was radar at 46 mph.
Nicole Denes also pitched the second game. She gave up 7 runs.
The Storm's Jenni Speir shut-out the Crusiers the first three
innings of the 2nd game. Her fastball was radar at 59 mph. Kayla King pitched afterwards. Her fastball was radar at 63 mph.
If the Storm and Crusiers do play each
other again, the outcome could be
different because both teams had key
players absent. The Storm played without their starting third baseman Paige Schwab and utility player Heather Miller. The Katy Crusiers played without pitchers Catherine Osterman and Kristin Schmidt.
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