Category: ASA Girls Fast Pitch GOLD

2010 held in Marietta, Georgia on August 1-7.

Champion – East Cobb Bullets, Kennesaw, Georgia
Runner Up –North Florida, Dunnellon, Florida

FINAL STANDINGS

1. East Cobb Bullets, Kennesaw, GA (7-0)
2. North Florida, Dunnellon, FL (10-2)
3. Team Florida, Clearwater, FL (5-2)
4. Texas Impact Gold, Houston, TX (5-2)
5t. TN Xplosion, Hendersonville, TN (4-2)
5t. Miami Stingrays 18U, Miami, FL (5-2)
7t. California Breeze, Sacramento, CA (4-2)
7t. Birmingham Vipers Hayes, Birmingham, AL (5-2)
9t. Houston Power Glowacz, Houston, TX (3-2)
9t. Gold Coast Hurricanes, Plantation, FL (3-2)
9t. Newtown Rock 18 Gold, Holland, PA (5-2)
9t. Georgia Elite, Douglasville, GA (3-2)
13t. Georgia Elite Sampson, Snellville, GA (3-2)
13t. Texas Blaze Gold, Round Rock, TX (3-2)
13t. Aces Express, Sugarland, TX (4-2)
13t. Texas Peppers Gold, Magnolia, TX (4-2)
17t. Texas Glory Gold Adkins, McKinney, TX (2-2)
17t. Texas Sudden Impact Gold, Spring, TX (2-2)
17t. Texas Bombers Gold, New Braunfels, TX (2-2)
17t. Beverly Bandits Gold, Overland Park, KS (2-2)
17t. So Cal Firecrackers, Huntington Beach, CA (2-2)
17t. Wichita Mustangs Gold 18U, Wichita, KS (3-2)
17t. New Lenox Lightning, New Lenox, IL (3-2)
17t. Oklahoma Force Gold, Yukon, OK (3-2)
25t. Wagners Gold, Arnold, MD (2-2)
25t. Strike Force 18U Guerra, Huntington Beach, CA (2-2)
25t. SGV Velocity, Pasadena, CA (2-2)
25t. Fury Fast Pitch Gold, Chattanooga, TN (2-2)
25t. The Next Level, Temecula, CA (2-2)
25t. St. Louis Chaos, St. Louis, MO (2-2)
25t. Northwest Eruption Gold, Kelso, WA (2-2)
25t. Alabama Crusaders Gold, Birmingham, AL (2-2)
33t. Jets Gold, Agoura Hills, CA (1-2)
33t. Atlanta Vipers 18 Gold, Atlanta, GA (1-2)
33t. Oregon Panthers Gold, Keizer, OR (1-2)
33t. Polar Crush Gold, Ashby, MA (1-2)
33t. OC Elite Gold Esteban, Mission Viejo, CA (1-2)
33t. Texas Rapid Fire Gold, Flower Mound, TX (1-2)
33t. Mizuno Pride, Torrance, CA (1-2)
33t. Georgia Impact Watts, Douglasville, GA (1-2)
33t. St. Louis Fusion Gold, St. Louis, MO (1-2)
33t. MN Irish 18U Gold, Rosemount, MN (1-2)
33t. TX Travelers Gold (Huddleston), Quitman, TX (1-2)
33t. Virginia Legends 18 Elite, Virginia Beach, VA (1-2)
33t. NJ Pride Gold, Bloomfield, NJ (1-2)
33t. Oregon Thunder Gold, Aloha, OR (1-2)
33t. Fury Softball 18U, Temecula, CA (1-2)
33t. Lady Orioles Gold, Glen Burnie, MD (1-2)
49t. Kansas City Peppers, Olathe, KS (0-2)
49t. USA Athletics, Long Beach, CA (0-2)
49t. Finesse, Commerce, MI (0-2)
49t. Power Surge Gold, El Cajon, CA (0-2)
49t. Case Batbusters, San Clemente, CA (0-2)
49t. CA Bears, Martinez, CA (0-2)
49t. Oklahoma Exclusive Gold, Midwest City, OK (0-2)
49t. Oregon Silver Bullets Gold Black, Aloha, OR (0-2)
49t. New Jersey Breakers Gold Salvatore, Monroe, NJ (0-2)
49t. GA Impact 18 Gold-Miller, Atlanta, GA (0-2)
49t. Strike Zone, Fremont, CA (0-2)
49t. All American Sports Academy-18 Gold, Woodland, CA (0-2)
49t. Absolute Blast, Bellevue, WA (0-2)
49t. NW Fireballs, Sherwood, OR (0-2)
49t. Miami Valley Xpress Gold, West Carrollton, OH (0-2)
49t. Hit Away Gold, Houston, TX (0-2)

2009 held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Complex in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on August 2-9.

Champion – Sorcerer Gold Phil, Concord, California
Runner Up –Gold Coast Hurricanes Gold, Plantation, Florida

In 2009, Premier Girls Fastpitch was formed. The premise of the organization was to compete with the Amateur Softball Association as admitted to on their Wikipedia page. Their claim was Gold Nationals should be held in Southern California every year because that was where the best teams were located. Southern California team success was chipped away at by teams in the southeast and Texas during the couple of years prior to the departure as the girls fastpitch game thrived.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Sorcerer Gold Phil, Concord, CA (7-0)
2. Gold Coast Hurricanes Gold, Plantation, FL (10-2)
3. Worth Firecrackers, Huntington Beach, CA (5-2)
4. So Cal Athletics, Upland, CA (6-2)
5t. Team North Florida, Wewahitchka, FL (4-2)
5t. NW Bullets Gold, Tualatin, OR (4-2)
7t. CA Cruisers, Mission Viejo, CA (4-2)
7t. Jersey Intensity, Farmingdale, NJ (4-2)
9t. So Cal Pumas, Ventura, CA (4-2)
9t. Wagners Gold, Arnold, MD (4-2)
9t. AZ Desert Thunder, Tucson, AZ (5-2)
9t. Valley Breeze, Granada Hills, CA (5-2)
13t. Texas Glory Gold Shelton, McKinney, TX (3-2)
13t. Arizona Hotshots, Scottsdale, AZ (4-2)
13t. Nebraska Gold, Omaha, NE (4-2)
13t. Georgia Elite, Douglasville, GA (4-2)
17t. East Cobb Bullets, Kennesaw, GA (2-2)
17t. So Cal Choppers, Valencia, CA (2-2)
17t. Alabama Crusaders, McCalla, AL (2-2)
17t. Texas Impact Gold, Houston, TX (2-2)
17t. Atlanta Vipers Vallery, Atlanta, GA (2-2)
17t. Nashville Cruisers, Nashville, TN (2-2)
17t. The Next Level, Encinitas, CA (3-2)
17t. Georgia Knockouts, Norcross, GA (3-2)
25t. O.C. Batbusters, Anaheim, CA (2-2)
25t. Corona Angels Red, Corona, CA (2-2)
25t. Explosion Gold, Tustin, CA (2-2)
25t. Houston Power, Houston, TX (2-2)
25t. Texas Challengers Gold, Helotes, TX (2-2)
25t. Lady Magic, Elk Grove, CA (2-2)
25t. St. Louis Chaos, St. Louis, MO (2-2)
25t. Texas Magic Gold, Missouri City, TX (2-2)
33t. Sorcerer Gold Pete, Volcano, CA (1-2)
33t. Finesse, Commerce, MI (1-2)
33t. Texas Eclipse Gold, Hockley, TX (1-2)
33t. Texas Glory Gold Beard, Mesquite, TX (1-2)
33t. Indy Dreams, Indianapolis, IN (1-2)
33t. Beverly Bandits, Orland Park, IL (1-2)
33t. Fury Fastpitch, Chattanooga, TN (1-2)
33t. San Diego Renegades, San Diego, CA (1-2)
33t. New Jersey Breakers, Wilmington, NJ (1-2)
33t. Texas Hawks Gold, Conroe, TX (1-2)
33t. Atlanta Vipers Seamon, Marietta, GA (1-2)
33t. Norcal Shockers, Martinez, CA (1-2)
33t. Oregon Reign, Eugene, OR (1-2)
33t. So Cal Breakers, Encinitas, CA (1-2)
33t. Louisiana Blazers, Walker, LA (1-2)
33t. MN Irish Gold, Rosemount, MN (1-2)
49t. Texas Blaze, Round Rock, TX (0-2)
49t. Texas Fusion, Irving, TX (0-2)
49t. Polar Crush, Ashby, MA (0-2)
49t. IL Southern Force, Aurora, IL (0-2)
49t. TC Tremors, Endicott, NY (0-2)
49t. Wichita Mustangs, Wichita, KS (0-2)
49t. Miami Valley Xpress, Xenia, OH (0-2)
49t. Severna Park Hornets-Miller, Owings, MD (0-2)
49t. Tulsa Shootout, Tulsa, OK (0-2)
49t. Texas Express Gold, Katy, TX (0-2)
49t. Washington Sidewinders, Arlington, WA (0-2)
49t. Texas Bombers, New Braunfels, TX (0-2)
49t. Louisiana Patriots, Baton Rouge, LA (0-2)
49t. Olathe Rockets, Olathe, KS (0-2)
49t. Washington Bulldogs, Vancouver, WA (0-2)
49t. Georgia Impact, Canton, GA (0-2)

2007 held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Complex in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on August 5-12.

Champion – Worth Firecrackers Rico, Huntington Beach, California
Runner Up – O.C. Batbusters Haning, Santa Ana, California

There are more national champions on their way to Arizona’s softball team.

The Worth Firecrackers, an 18-and-under team that includes three University of Arizona recruits, won the Gold Nationals Tournament in Oklahoma City on Sunday.

The Firecrackers, from southern California beat the Orange County Batbusters 5-4 in a rematch of the 2006 final, won by the Batbusters.

Kristen Arriola drove in the winning run on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Arriola, a second baseman, has committed to Arizona and will be a high school senior next season.

Thy Firecrackers also featuring Perelini Koria, a slugging catcher-third baseman who has committed to Arizona and will be a high school senior, and Wildcats’ signee Lauren Schutzler.

Schutzler, who went 2 for 3 in the title game, is expected to compete next season in Arizona’s outfield with, among others, incoming freshman Brittany Lastrapes, who plays for the Batbusters.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Worth Firecrackers Rico, Huntington Beach, CA (7-0)
2. O.C. Batbusters Haning, Santa Ana, CA (6-1)
3. Gold Coast Hurricanes Gold Cooper, Cooper City, FL (5-2)
4. So Cal Choppers Fausett, Valencia, CA (8-2)
5t. Shamrocks Orndorff, Vienna, VA (4-2)
5t. Corona Angels Tyson, Corona, CA (5-2)
7t. San Jose Sting Gold Perales, San Jose, CA (6-2)
7t. IL Southern Force Glasco, Johnson City, IL (6-2)
9t. WA Lady Hawks Miller, Puyallup, WA (3-2)
9t. Texas Aces Gold Orsak, Pearland, TX (3-2)
9t. San Diego Renegades Tillett, San Diego, CA (3-2)
9t. California Cruisers McCard, La Palma, CA (5-2)
13t. Atlanta Vipers Gold Seamon, Marietta, GA (3-2)
13t. So Cal Breakers Beddow, Encinitas, CA (3-2)
13t. Texas Glory Gold Adkins, McKinney, TX (3-2)
13t. So Cal Pumas Nourse, Ventura, CA (4-2)
17t. Beach Girls Gold Botti, Brooklyn, NY (2-2)
17t. Beverly Bandits Conroy, Orland Park, IL (2-2)
17t. Ultimate Gold Marcum, Purcell, OK (2-2)
17t. So Cal Athletics Richardson, Montclair, CA (2-2)
17t. Texas Storm Gold Dixon, Pearland, TX (2-2)
17t. So Cal Explosion Gerritse, Cypress, CA (3-2)
17t. St. Louis Chaos Beatty, St. Louis, MO (3-2)
17t. Texas Storm Gold Durham, Pearland, TX (3-2)
25t. Az Desert Thunder Gold Fowler, Tucson, AZ (2-2)
25t. Carolina Lady Blues Gold Ochoa, Charlotte, NC (2-2)
25t. Katy Heat Brown, Katy, TX (2-2)
25t. KC Peppers Eakin, Olathe, KS (2-2)
25t. Louisiana Voodoo Gold Barksdale, River Ridge, LA (2-2)
25t. Nebraska Sizzle Brummer, Elkhorn, NE (2-2)
25t. San Jose Strikkers Sorci, San Jose, CA (2-2)
25t. Valley Breeze Sotelo, San Fernando, CA (2-2)
33t. Arizona Hotshots Gold Neuman, Gilbert, AZ (1-2)
33t. Arizona Hotshots Gold Gatti, Scottsdale, AZ (1-2)
33t. Cal Raiders Bruden, Long Beach, CA (1-2)
33t. Corona Angels Genovese, Corona, CA (1-2)
33t. Cy Fair Intruders Gold Johnson, Houston, TX (1-2)
33t. Georgia Xtreme Gold Rush, Stockbridge, GA (1-2)
33t. Glacier NW Gold Barnett, Vancouver, WA (1-2)
33t. Lady Gators Gold Call, Lake Worth, FL (1-2)
33t. Michigan Finesse Kilburn, Sterling Heights, MI (1-2)
33t. Nightmare Gold Wheeler, Hamilton, NJ (1-2)
33t. Oklahoma Babes Backman, Midwest City, OK (1-2)
33t. Omaha Quakes Gold Peterson, Papillion, NE (1-2)
33t. Strike Zone Ford, Hayward, CA (1-2)
33t. Tennessee Eagles Hutsin, Chattanooga, TN (1-2)
33t. Texas Impact Gold Burke, Houston, TX (1-2)
33t. Victory USA Gold Hay, Fountain Valley, CA (1-2)
49t. All American Sports Academy Merrida, Woodland, CA (0-2)
49t. AZ Suncats Smith, Glendale, AZ (0-2)
49t. Colorado Stars Burns, Boulder, CO (0-2)
49t. East Cobb Bullets Gold Pauly, Kennesaw, GA (0-2)
49t. Houston Power Glowacz, Katy, TX (0-2)
49t. Jets Gold-Pearce, Agoura Hills, CA (0-2)
49t. MC Elite South Drude, Magonlia, TX (0-2)
49t. Miami Valley Express Brittingham, Xenia, OH (0-2)
49t. MN Irish Johnson, Rosemont, MN (0-2)
49t. Mustang Gold Griggs, Wichita, KS (0-2)
49t. Nor Cal Shockers Buccellato, Martinez, CA (0-2)
49t. NW Bullets-Muir, Portland, OR (0-2)
49t. Polar Crush Gold King, Ashby, MA (0-2)
49t. Sorcerer Gold Mumma, Concord, CA (0-2)
49t. Tulsa Eagles Simmons, Tulsa, OK (0-2)
49t. Virginia Legends Paul, Virginia Beach, VA (0-2)

2006 held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Complex in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on August 6-13.

Champion – O.C. Batbusters, Santa Ana, California
Runner Up – Worth Firecrackers Rico, Huntington Beach, California

Mike Schroeder knew he’d be celebrating a national championship with his daughter Sunday afternoon.

He just didn’t know which one. It turned out to be Katie, 17, who is the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter for the Orange County Batbusters.

Katie Schroeder scored the go-ahead run as part of a six-run sixth inning for the Batbusters, who defeated the Huntington Beach, Calif., Firecrackers 9-4 at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in the 18-under Gold national fast-pitch softball championship game.

Michelle Schroeder, Katie’s 18-year-old sister, drove in a run for the Firecrackers, but she failed to make a play on a sinking line drive in right field that scored two runs in the Batbusters’ big sixth inning.

“The last part of the game was a rare emotion,” Mike Schroeder said. “As a dad, you want both girls to win. When the Firecrackers were winning, I kind of wanted them to win because Michelle is a senior. But when the Batbusters came back, and Katie had a hit and scored a run, that’s exciting. You just can’t switch it on and off like that when you’re a dad.”

This likely won’t be the last time that Mike Schroeder feels those emotions. Michelle is a freshman-to-be on the Stanford softball team. Katie, entering her senior year in high school, has committed to Pac-10 Conference rival UCLA, where their oldest sister, Jennifer, will be a junior.

“It’s not over yet,” Katie Schroeder said. “There’s going to be so many more of these. We’re really competitive, but we’re so supportive of each other. This will always be fun. We’ll remember this game for a long time.”

The Batbusters’ late rally was aided by the strong relief pitching of Donna Kerr.

Kerr allowed two hits and no runs over the final 41/3 innings. She quickly retired the Firecrackers in order in the sixth and seventh for the win.

“I knew I had to keep my team in the game, because I knew our bats would come around and they did,” said Kerr, who usually pitches as a starter. “I’ve only done it (pitched in relief) a few times. It’s different coming in with runners on and you’re in a situation. I had to find my bearings.”

FINAL STANDINGS

1. O.C. Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (7-0)
2. Worth Firecrackers Rico, Huntington Beach, CA (9-2)
3. California Cruisers McCard, Carlsbad, CA (5-2)
4. Valley Breeze Sotelo, San Fernando, CA (5-3)
5t. Shamrocks Orndorff, Vienna, VA (4-2)
5t. So Cal Athletics Richardson, Montclair, CA (6-2)
7t. Arizona Hotshots Gold Gatti, Scottsdale, AZ (4-2)
7t. Houston Power Gold Glowacz, Katy, TX (5-2)
9t. St. Louis Chaos Clynes, Florissant, MO (3-2)
9t. OK Babes Gold Bachman, Midwest City, OK (3-2)
9t. San Diego Breakers Harvey, Carlsbad, CA (3-2)
9t. Georgia Fire Yovanovich, Smyrna, GA (5-2)
13t. High Intensity Gold Collins, Niceville, FL (4-2)
13t. CA Grapettes Gomes, Lodi, CA (4-2)
13t. The Next Level Facione, Encinitas, CA (4-2)
13t. Washington Lady Hawks Noble, Redmond, WA (4-2)
17t. Jets Gold Pearce, Agoura Hills, CA (2-2)
17t. Louisiana Voodoo Gold Barksdale, River Ridge, LA (2-2)
17t. New Orleans Dejavu/Koplitz, New Orleans, LA (3-2)
17t. Omaha Finesse Gold Koubsky, Omaha, NE (3-2)
17t. San Diego Renegades Peronto, San Diego, CA (2-2)
17t. Pumas Nourse, Ventura, CA (2-2)
17t. Southern Force Glasco, Johnston City, IL (3-2)
17t. Sudden Impact Gold Lampl, Houston, TX (2-2)
25t. Corona Angels Tyson, Corona, CA (2-2)
25t. Ft. Worth Batbusters Black Grans, Richland Hills, TX (2-2)
25t. Georgia Elite Caldwell, Douglasville, GA (2-2)
25t. Jersey Inferno Gold Meister, Basking Ridge, NJ (2-2)
25t. Orange County Lionettes Wilson, Anaheim Hills, CA (2-2)
25t. Oregon Panthers Gold Orlando, Salem, OR (2-2)
25t. Texas Glory Gold Adkins, McKinney, TX (2-2)
25t. Impact Gold Burke, Houston, TX (2-2)
33t. American Pastime Gold Farnworth, Upland, CA (1-2)
33t. Anaheim O.C. Batbusters Anderson, Huntington Beach, CA (1-2)
33t. Arizona Suncats Heeley, Glendale, AZ (1-2)
33t. East Cobb Bullets Gold Branan, Alpharetta, GA (1-2)
33t. Finesse-Kilburn, Sterling Heights, MI (1-2)
33t. Georgia Titans-Bailey, Lithonia, GA (1-2)
33t. MN Irish Johnson, Rosemount, MN (1-2)
33t. Wichita Mustangs Misunas, Wichita, KS (1-2)
33t. So Cal Diamonds Garziano, Newbury Park, CA (1-2)
33t. So Cal Vipers Gold Carver, Moreno Valley, CA (1-2)
33t. Sorcerer Gold Mumma, Concord, CA (1-2)
33t. Texas Eclipse Gold Glass, Houston, TX (1-2)
33t. Texas Glory 18U Butler, Ennis, TX (1-2)
33t. Texas Travelers Wardlow, Mesquite, TX (1-2)
33t. Vienna Stars Gore, Vienna, VA (1-2)
33t. Xtreme Mavericks Of Georgia Kincaid, McDonough, GA (1-2)
49t. Absolute Blast Gold Bolstad, Bellevue, WA (0-2)
49t. Blast Gold Verde, Beaumont, TX (0-2)
49t. Colorado Stars Burns, Boulder, CO (0-2)
49t. Germantown Red Devils Kalisak, Southaven, MS (0-2)
49t. Gold Coast Hurricanes Cooper, Davie, FL (0-2)
49t. Lady Gators Gold Call, Lake Worth, FL (0-2)
49t. MC Elite Drude, Magnolia, TX (0-2)
49t. Miami Valley Xpress Blue Marsh, Mason, OH (0-2)
49t. New Jersey Breakers Gold Salvatore, Monroe, NJ (0-2)
49t. Polar Crush Palumbo, Worcester, MA (0-2)
49t. So Cal Sliderz Depompa, Sunland, CA (0-2)
49t. South Bay Pride Currier, Torrance, CA (0-2)
49t. Strike Zone Ford, Hayward, CA (0-2)
49t. Team FLA Hazzard, Palm Harbor, FL (0-2)
49t. Tennessee Nighthawks Edwards, Murfreesboro, TN (0-2)
49t. Texas Storm Gold Durham, Pearland, TX (0-2)

2005 held at Salinas Sports Complex in Salinas, California on August 8-14, 2005.

Champion – Shamrocks, Vienna, Virginia
Runner Up – Arizona Hotshots Gold, Scottsdale, Arizona

Wearing white four-leaf clovers on their jerseys, the Virginia Shamrocks found some luck and timely hitting against the Arizona Hotshots on Sunday at the Salinas Sports Complex.

Maddy Coon hit an RBI double and later scored on a passed ball in the third inning to help the Shamrocks beat the Hotshots 3-1 in the title game of the Amateur Softball Association’s 18-under Gold National Championship.

The Shamrocks scored all three runs against starting pitcher Kim Reeder, the former Notre Dame product who last pitched two days ago. After Coon scored on a passed ball with two outs, Reeder was pulled for Katie Cotta, who ended the inning.

“My game was about ‘C range,” Reeder said. Before he was doused with water, Shamrocks coach Tommy Orndorff said he was elated his team finally pulled through with the title.

Earlier in the week, he celebrated his birthday. While his team didn’t promise him a championship, Orndorff said a viable gift would be to play in the title game.

“I’ve coached 36 years, and this is what you dream about,” Orndorff said. “I’ve always felt we could do it.

Seeing the University of Michigan win the College Softball World Series earlier this year brought hopes that more teams east of the Mississippi River could win softball titles in the college and high school levels, Orndorff said.

The Shamrocks won seven straight games to take the 64-team double-elimination tournament. The Hotshots made bids late in the game to force a second “if’ game, but many of the rallies started with two outs and were ended.

Arizona broke through in the top of the sixth with two outs. Jaci Hull hit a double and Caylyn Carlson promptly singled her home to cut its deficit to 3-1. Dani Gonzales reached on an infield hit, but Casey Willow then hit a grounder to first base.

“We’re a team that wakes up when we get behind,” said Ari-zona manager Rick Jones. “We just ran out of gas.”

It’s the highest finish for any Arizona travel softball team in the state ever, Jones said.

The two teams met several times earlier this year at regional tournaments throughout the nation, with the series pulled even. Two weeks ago, the Shamrocks did in the Hotshots in a low-scoring affair.

“With our pitchers, one is enough,” Coon said, referring to the passed ball in the first inning that allowed Courtney Bures to score and give the Shamrocks a 1-0 lead. In the first game of Sunday’s action, the Shamrocks beat Arizona 1-0 to reach the finals.

Arizona was then sent to the losers bracket and, with the help of a two-run home run by Stefanie Ewing, defeated the Orange County Batbusters 3-1 to qualify for the title game.

With the national championship done and the outcome not what she had hoped, Reeder has other teams on her mind.

“I’m thinking about UCLA and Stanford,” said the Ohio State University incoming freshman. “We play them in a tournament coming up, so I have to get ready for them.”

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Shamrocks, Vienna, VA (7-0)
2. Arizona Hotshots Gold, Scottsdale, AZ (6-2)
3. O.C. Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (6-2)
4. Impact Gold, Houston, TX (7-2)
5t. Corona Angels, Corona, CA (4-2)
5t. Anaheim O.C. Batbusters, Garden Grove, CA (7-2)
7t. Texas Eclipse Gold, Magnolia, TX (4-2)
7t. Gold Coast Hurricanes Gold, Davie, FL (5-2)
9t. Worth Firecrackers, Huntington Beach, CA (3-2)
9t. So Cal Diamonds, Newbury Park, CA (3-2)
9t. Victory USA Gold, Fountain Valley, CA (3-2)
9t. SK Sudden Impact Gold, Houston, TX (5-3)
13t. Strikkers, San Jose, CA (3-2)
13t. Chaos, St. Louis, MO (5-2)
13t. So Cal Athletics, Montclair, CA (5-2)
13t. Washington Ladyhawks, Redmond, WA (4-3)
17t. American Pastime Gold, Upland, CA (2-2)
17t. Beverly Bandits, Orland Park, IL (2-2)
17t. Tulsa Eagles Gold, Tulsa, OK (2-2)
17t. Gordon’s Panthers, Canyon Lake, CA (2-2)
17t. Georgia Titans, Lithonia, GA (2-2)
17t. Texas High Voltage Gold, Deer Park, TX (3-2)
17t. Indiana Magic Gold Clay, Rochester, IN (4-2)
17t. Sorcerer Softball 18 Gold, San Ramon, CA (4-2)
25t. TX Magic Gold, Missouri City, TX (3-2)
25t. Georgia Elite, Douglasville, GA (3-2)
25t. Georgia Fire Gold, Roswell, GA (2-2)
25t. Texas Rapid Fire, Flower Mound, TX (2-2)
25t. San Diego Renegades Gold, San Diego, CA (2-2)
25t. Nashville Nighthawks, Madison, TN (2-2)
25t. Strike Zone Ford, Hayward, CA (2-2)
25t. Texas Storm Gold, Bellaire, TX (2-3)
33t. Valley Breeze, Pacoima, CA (2-2)
33t. Missouri Renegades Gold, Union, MO (1-2)
33t. Mad Dogs, Alliance, OH (1-2)
33t. Blast Gold, Beaumont, TX (1-2)
33t. Louisiana Voodoo Gold, River Ridge, LA (1-2)
33t. Colorado Comets Gold, Denver, CO (1-2)
33t. KC Xtreme, Olathe, KS (1-2)
33t. Suncats, Glendale, AZ (1-2)
33t. Mize Diamonds Gold, Los Gatos, CA (1-2)
33t. Kansas City Peppers, Olathe, KS (1-2)
33t. Tuff-N-Tuffer Gold, Somerville, NJ (1-3)
33t. Vancouver Ford Gold, Vancouver, WA (1-3)
33t. Nor Cal Lite, Woodland, CA (1-3)
33t. Finesse, Sterling Heights, MI (2-2)
33t. High Intensity, Niceville, FL (2-2)
33t. Houston Power Gold, Katy, TX (2-2)
49t. California Cruisers, La Palma, CA (1-2)
49t. Oregon Panthers Gold, Salem, OR (1-2)
49t. Finesse, Omaha, NE (1-2)
49t. Jersey Inferno Gold, Basking Ridge, NJ (1-2)
49t. South Houston Mystixx, Houston, TX (1-2)
49t. Glacier NW Gold, Vancouver, WA (1-2)
49t. Southern Force Gold, Johnston City, IL (1-2)
49t. Washington Sidewinders, Snohomish, WA (0-3)
49t. So Cal Vipers, Moreno Valley, CA (0-3)
49t. Salinas Storm 18U Gold, Salinas, CA (0-3)
49t. Lil Saints, Phoenix, AZ (0-3)
49t. Team Fla, Clearwater, FL (0-3)
49t. R.B.I. Monarchs, Los Angeles, CA (0-3)
49t. Texas Storm Gold-Dixon, Pasadena, TX (0-3)
49t. WA Spirit Gold, Tri-Cities, WA (0-3)
49t. CF Intruders, Houston, TX (0-3)

2005 GOLD Bracket

2004 held at Marietta, Georgia on August 9-14.

Champion – Southern Force, Johnston City, Illinois
Runner Up – California Cruisers, La Palma, California

Sharma Diller’s RBI-single in the bottom of the 10th inning captured the Amateur Softball Association 18-and-under Gold National Tournament title for the Southern Force Sunday.

Diller, of Bloomington, drove Toni Whitfield of Johnston City in with the winning run in a 2-1 victory over the California Cruisers in Marietta, Ga. With the win, the Force became what’s believed to be the first team from the Midwest to ever win the tournament.

“We wanted it big time,” said Force coach Gerry Glasco. “I really felt positive that we were going to win, because we won the Canada Cup in a 0-0 game in the eighth inning.”

University of Georgia pitcher Kasi Carroll, who pitched Norris City-Omaha-Enfield to the Class A State ‘- Softball Tournament as a senior in 2003, notched the win for the Force off the mound Sunday. Carroll allowed four runs in 10 games over the five-day tournament that began Aug. 11.

The Force beat Impact (Texas) Gold 1-0 in Saturday night’s semifinals and topped two Division I recruits in the Sunday finals. Anjelica Selden, who signed with the University of California-Los Angeles, and Arizona State signee Mindy Cowles both pitched for the Cruisers in the title game and allowed both runs.

Cowles started the game, was relieved by Selden, and came back in the 10th inning, when the Force loaded the bases with nobody out.

Under the international tiebreaker, the Force began the inning with Whitfield on second base. Kacey Coonce was intentionally walked, bringing up Mount Vernon’s Katie Wagner. Wagner attempted to sacrifice Whitfield over to third, but reached base when the Cruisers’ first baseman pulled her foot off the bag, leaving the bases loaded for Diller.

She then smacked Cowles’ first pitch up the middle into center field for the game-winner.

“Everybody had a part in it,” Glasco said. “Wagner made a sacrifice. and Whitfield made a nice catch the other night, taking away a double. Chelsea Petty had big hit after big hit all week long. Wagner, Glasco, Petty and Coonce — they’ve played together for years, and they’re all from small towns.

“They pulled together better. The Cruisers came from all over the United States; their team would pull them in for every weekend and pay for all of their expense.”

The Cruisers scored the first run of the game in the top of the eighth, but the Force responded with a run in the bottom half off a wild pitch.

The Force ended at 59-9 overall, and will try to duplicate the feat next season.

Carroll will be ineligible next season, but Glasco said Belleville East fireballer Dylan Mathis of Roxana could play with the team next summer.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Southern Force, Johnston City, IL (7-0)
2. California Cruisers, La Palma, CA (10-2)
3. Impact Gold, Houston, TX (5-2)
4. O.C. Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (6-2)
5t. Corona Angels, Corona, CA (4-2)
5t. Georgia Elite Gold, Douglasville, GA (4-2)
7t. Arizona Heatwave Gold, Tempe, AZ (4-2)
7t. Gordon’s Panthers, Canyon Lake, CA (5-2)
9t. Valley Breeze Gold, Agoura, CA (3-2)
9t. Blast Gold, Beaumont, TX (3-2)
9t. Vancouver Ford, Vancouver, WA (4-2)
9t. Anaheim O.C. Batbusters, Garden Grove, CA (4-2)
13t. Shamrocks, Vienna, VA (3-2)
13t. Southern Cal Athletics, Montclair, CA (3-2)
13t. San Diego Co. Breakers, Carlsbad, CA (4-2)
13t. Arizona Hotshots, Tempe, AZ (4-2)
17t. Gold Coast Hurricanes, Plantation, FL (2-2)
17t. American Pastime, Upland, CA (2-2)
17t. Runnin’ Rebels, Stockton, CA (2-2)
17t. Sorcerer Softball, San Ramon, CA (3-2)
17t. Worth Firecrackers, Huntington Beach, CA (3-2)
17t. Fresno Force, Fresno, CA (3-2)
17t. Oregon Sun Supply, Portland, OR (3-2)
17t. Team Smith, Yorba Linda, CA (3-2)
25t. Texas Storm, Pearland, TX (2-2)
25t. KC Peppers, Olathe, KS (2-2)
25t. Austin Storm, Austin, TX (2-2)
25t. Beverly Bandits, Orland Park, IL (2-2)
25t. Magic Gold, Missouri City, TX (2-2)
25t. Clearwater Lady Bombers, Largo, FL (2-2)
25t. South Houston Mystixx, Houston, TX (2-2)
25t. Strikkers, San Jose, CA (2-2)
33t. Tulsa Eagles Gold, Tulsa, OK (1-2)
33t. Texas Elite Easton, Grand Prairie, TX (1-2)
33t. American Athletics Gold, Fountain Valley, CA (1-2)
33t. Washington Spirit Gold, Richland, WA (1-2)
33t. Houston Power Gold, Katy, TX (1-2)
33t. Phoenix Storm, Phoenix, AZ (1-2)
33t. St. Louis Chaos, St. Louis, MO (1-2)
33t. Georgia Fire Gold, Roswell, GA (1-2)
33t. Washington Lady Hawks, Lake Forest, WA (1-2)
33t. Omaha Finesse, Omaha, NE (1-2)
33t. Nashville Nighthawks, Madison, TN (1-2)
33t. Wichita Mustangs, Wichita, KS (1-2)
33t. Atlanta Vipers, Fayetteville, GA (1-2)
33t. Southern Cal Vipers, Moreno Valley, CA (1-2)
33t. Beach Girls Gold, Brooklyn, NY (1-2)
33t. Colorado Stars Gold, Boulder, CO (1-2)
49t. Filly’s, Mira Loma, CA (1-2)
49t. GA Fire Black, Lawrenceville, GA (0-2)
49t. Maddogs, Alliance, OH (0-2)
49t. Finesse, Sterling Heights, MI (0-2)
49t. Delong AZ Outlaws, Peoria, AZ (0-2)
49t. Strike Zone, Hayward, CA (0-2)
49t. California Lite Gold, Rialto, CA (0-2)
49t. East Cobb Bullets, Marietta, GA (0-2)
49t. East Cobb Angels, Marietta, GA (0-2)
49t. Rock N Fire, Manassas, VA (0-2)
49t. Oklahoma Dynamites, Edmond, OK (0-2)
49t. Lady Gators, West Palm Beach, FL (0-2)
49t. Grapettes, Lodi, CA (0-2)
49t. Chattanooga Yankettes, Chattanooga, TN (0-2)
49t. Miami Valley Xpress, Dayton, OH (0-2)
49t. Wagner’s, Glen Burnie, MD (1-2)
65t. Team Florida, Palm Harbor, FL (0-2)

2003 held at Wallace Marine Park in West Salem, Oregon on August 4-10.

Champion – O.C. Batbusters, Santa Ana, California
Runner Up – Shamrocks, Vienna, Virginia

It’s become a repetitive tale for the Orange County Batbusters:

Lose their first game at the ASA 18 Gold National Championships, then win the rest and the national title in the process.

For the second consecutive year, the Batbusters won the national championship, this time a 5-1 win against the Shamrocks of Virginia in front of more than 500 people Sunday at Wallace Marine Park in West Salem.

“We got yelled at for losing, but I’d rather lose at the beginning than at the end,” said winning pitcher Lisa Dodd, one of six on the team from last year.

The Batbusters lost last year in the first game of the tournament to the Oregon Panthers. This year, the Batbusters lost their first game of pool play, a 2-1 decision against the Arizona Hotshots.

Orange County then won its next eight games in a row for the national title, including a 3-0 win against the Worth Fire-crackers earlier Sunday in the sixth round of winner’s bracket play.

“It was weird that it happened just like last year,” said Batbusters second-baseman Dominique LaStrapes, who will play at Washington next year.

The Shamrocks lost 11-9 to the Firecrackers in the semifinals of the winner’s bracket and won three games Sunday to get in the national championship game.

The Shamrocks beat the Firecrackers 9-3 in the final of the loser’s bracket to reach the championship game of the double-elimination tournament.

The Shamrocks also beat the Firecrackers 3-2 in the first game of pool play Tuesday. “It was such an honor just to be in this game,” said Shamrocks right fielder Kelley Brown, who played as a freshman at Virginia Tech last year.

“Our organization has been together since 1977, same coach and everything. This is the first time in the whole history of the organization that we’ve made it to the national championship game. It was such an honor to represent the East Coast.”

Orange County lead early

The Batbusters took the lead in the game in the first inning and never trailed.

LaStrapes, the leadoff hitter, started the game with a single off Shamrocks pitcher Stephanie VanBrakle.

Tara Henry walked and Dodd grounded out to advance the runners to second and third.

With two outs in the inning, Kristie Fox connected on a hard hit to Shamrocks short-stop Courtney Bures that Bures couldn’t field. That allowed LaStrapes to score for a 1-0 Orange County lead.

LaStrapes singled to start the third inning, and after Henry singled, Dodd hit into a fielder’s choice to advance LaStrapes to third.

LaStrapes scored when Michelle Smith hit into a sacrifice to give her team a 2-0 lead. Three times in the first four innings and four times in the game, Orange County led off the inning with a hit or a batter hit by a pitch.

“It was important because they were so strong offensively that you never know, in the next inning, they could score three runs,” LaStrapes said.

The Shamrocks got one run back in the bottom of the fourth when Brown hit a leadoff single and made it to third on a single from Dani Woods and a fielder’s choice by Alex Switenko.

Brown scored when Maddy Coon hit a deep fly into center-field.

Dodd solid outing

Except for the fourth inning, Dodd pitched a solid game. She struck out five, allowed three hits and no walks in seven innings of work.

“We knew we had to hit the ball, and we knew she had a good changeup,” said Brown, who was 2 for 3. “We pretty much knew everything that we were going into, it’s just that they happened to execute better than we did.”

The Batbusters put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh.

“Obviously you want to show them why you’re national champions, why you’re defending. When you’re on top, everyone wants to get the person on top. 16 more pressure, but its also fun.”
Lisa Dodd Batbusters’ winning pitcher

Jessica Runge reached on an error with one out. Jessica Hejne hit a bloop single into centerfield, and LaStrapes walked to load the bases.

Henry hit a sacrifice to score one runner, then Dodd hit a single to score two more for the final 5-1 tally.

“Obviously you want to show them why you’re national champions, why you’re defending,” said Dodd, who will play for defending NCAA Division I champion UCLA next year. “When you’re on top, everyone wants to get the person on top. It’s more pressure, but it’s also fun.”

For the Batbusters, LaStrapes was 2 for 3 with a walk and three runs scored and Dodd was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Top teams earn bids

Orange County, along with runner-up Shamrocks, third-place Worth Firecrackers and fourth-place Gordon’s Panthers each receive automatic bids to next year’s ASA 18 Gold National Championships to be played in Marietta, Georgia.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. O.C. Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (6-0)
2. Shamrocks, Vienna, VA (7-2)
3. Firecrackers, Huntington Beach, CA (6-2)
4. Gordon’s Panthers, Fullerton, CA (6-2)
5t. Case Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (7-2)
5t. Lady Gators, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (4-2)
7t. Fresno Force, Fresno, CA (4-2)
7t. California Lite, Rialto, CA (5-2)
9t. San Jose Strikkers, San Jose, CA (3-2)
9t. Tulsa Eagles, Tulsa, OK (3-2)
9t. Salinas Storm, Salinas, CA (4-2)
9t. Missouri City Magic, Missouri City, TX (5-2)
13t. American Pastime, Upland, CA (3-2)
13t. Impact Gold, Houston, TX (3-2)
13t. So Cal Athletics, Montclair, CA (4-2)
13t. So Cal Lightning, Chula Vista, CA (4-2)
17t. Arizona Outlaws, Peoria, AZ (3-2)
17t. Orland Park Sparks, Orland Park, IL (2-2)
17t. Tampa Mustangs, Lutz, FL (2-2)
17t. Washington Ladyhawks, Woodinville, WA (2-2)
17t. California Cruisers, La Palma, CA (3-2)
17t. So Cal Breakers, Encinitas, CA (3-2)
17t. Texas Elite, Grand Prairie, TX (3-2)
17t. Gold Coast Hurricane, Cooper City, FL (2-2)
25t. Georgia Elite, Douglasville, GA (2-2)
25t. Houston Power, Houston, TX (2-2)
25t. KC Peppers, Olathe, KS (2-2)
25t. USA Athletics, Anaheim, CA (2-2)
25t. Glacier NW, Vancouver, WA (2-2)
25t. NJ Pride, Newark, NJ (2-2)
25t. Oregon Panthers, Salem, OR (2-2)
25t. Sacramento Rush, Sacramento, CA (2-2)
33t. Anaheim O.C. Batbusters, Garden Grove, CA (1-2)
33t. Beach Girls, Brooklyn, NY (1-2)
33t. Blazing Angels, Cheltenham, PA (1-2)
33t. NW Extreme, Canby, OR (1-2)
33t. San Diego Renegades, San Diego, CA (1-2)
33t. Arizona Hotshots, Tempe, AZ (1-2)
33t. California Waves, Santa Barbara, CA (1-2)
33t. Colorado Legend, Parker, CO (1-2)
33t. KC Xtreme, Olathe, KS (1-2)
33t. Louisiana Reflections, Lafayette, LA (1-2)
33t. Maddogs, Alliance, OH (1-2)
33t. Phoenix Storm Swan, Phoenix, AZ (1-2)
33t. So Cal Diamonds, Newbury Park, CA (1-2)
33t. Sudden Impact Gold, Houston, TX (1-2)
33t. Texas Storm, Pearland, TX (1-2)
33t. Valley Breeze, San Fernando, CA (1-2)
49t. Atlanta Vipers, Atlanta, GA (0-2)
49t. Colorado Stars, Boulder, CO (0-2)
49t. Georgia Fire, Roswell, GA (0-2)
49t. Katy Express, Katy, TX (0-2)
49t. Lil Saints, Peoria, AZ (0-2)
49t. Louisiana Voodoo, New Orleans, LA (0-2)
49t. Oklahoma Twisters, Norman, OK (0-2)
49t. Panthers, Glendale, CA (0-2)
49t. Phoenix Storm Moloney, Phoenix, AZ (0-2)
49t. So Cal Pride, Newhall, CA (0-2)
49t. Southern Force, Johnston City, IL (0-2)
49t. Strike Zone, Hayward, CA (0-2)
49t. Texas Eclipse, Houston, TX (0-2)
49t. Texas Hawks, Conroe, TX (0-2)
49t. Texas High Voltage, Houston, TX (0-2)
49t. Vipers, Moreno Valley, CA (0-2)

2003 OC Batbusters

2002 held in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on August 5-11.

Champion – O.C. Batbusters, Santa Ana, California
Runner Up – Smoke, Fullerton, California

In a matchup of Goliaths, it was the unnoticed pitcher who drew the most interest at Arrowhead Park on Sunday.

Lisa Dodd outdueled Alicia Hollowell, the 2002 Gatorade National Player of the Year, in the championship of the ASA 18-and-under Gold Nationals, leading the Anaheim (Calif.) O.C. Batbusters to a 2-0 win over the Fullerton Smoke.

Dodd, a high school senior to be, came within a seventh-inning bunt single of a perfect game to best Fullerton and Hollowell, an ASA All-American last year who will pitch at Arizona next spring.

Candice Baker tripled home Ashley Herrera, who was running for Dodd, with the go-ahead run in the second and scored on Jaisa Ceps’ single one pitch later for all the runs Dodd needed.

The final four teams were all from California. Fullerton won the first Gold title in 1994 as Gordon’s Panthers, and added titles in ’96 and ’98.

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Summer Tobias, California Cruisers
P – Alicia Hollowell, Smoke
P – Kasi Carroll, Southern Force
C – Haley Woods, California Cruisers
1B – Desiree Williams, Paradise Valley Premier
2B – Anna Beardman, Smoke
3B – Andrea Duran, O.C. Batbusters
SS – Stephanie Churchwell, O.C. Batbusters
OF – Lauren Castle, Louisiana Gold
OF – Megan Cotton, High Intensity
OF – Kristin Vesley, Paradise Valley Premier
OF – Autumn Champion, Smoke
UTIL – Mallorie Lenn, Smoke
UTIL – Lisa Dodd, O.C. Batbusters
UTIL – Lindsey Gerheim, East Cobb Bullets

SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Brooke Mitchell, Louisiana Gold
P – Janet Kearns, East Cobb Bullets
P – Marjorie Johnson, Eagles Gold
C – Leigh Ann Danos, Katy Cruisers
1B – Jackie Rinehart, California Cruisers
2B – Taylr Hollis, Louisiana Gold
3B – Jamie Fox, Louisiana Gold
SS – Lisa Gorzycki, Texas Impact Gold
OF – Adrienne Alo, Smoke
OF – Tara Lindsey, Texas Impact Gold
OF – Lashaun Davis, East Cobb Bullets
OF – Amanda Williams, East Cobb Bullets
UTIL – Melissa Wood, Atlanta Vipers Gold
UTIL – Brittany Vanderink, Mad Dogs
UTIL – Vanessa Iapala, Smoke

FINAL STANDINGS

1. O.C. Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (7-0)
2. Smoke, Fullerton, CA (7-2)
3. California Cruisers, La Palma, CA (6-2)
4. Fresno Force Gold, Fresno, CA (6-2)
5t. Atlanta Vipers Gold, Conyers, GA (4-2)
5t. Paradise Valley Premier, Scottsdale, AZ (6-2)
7t. Glacier NW Gold, Vancouver, WA (4-2)
7t. Strike Zone, Hayward, CA (4-2)
9t. High Intensity, Niceville, FL (3-2)
9t. Anaheim Batbusters, Garden Grove, CA (4-2)
9t. East Cobb Bullets, Marietta, GA (6-2)
9t. Louisiana Gold, Lafayette, LA (5-2)
13t. Southern Force, Johnston City, IL (4-2)
13t. Texas Impact Gold, Houston, TX (4-2)
13t. American Pastime Gold, Upland, CA (3-2)
13t. Fear This Softball, Grand Prairie, TX (3-2)
17t. Blazing Angels, Holland, PA (3-2)
17t. Eagles Gold, Tulsa, OK (3-2)
17t. Mad Dogs, Alliance, OH (3-2)
17t. So Cal Athletics, Montclair, CA (3-2)
17t. Gainesville Gold Stevens, Gainesville, FL (2-2)
17t. Katy Cruisers, Katy, TX (2-2)
17t. Lil Saints Gold, Peoria, AZ (2-2)
17t. Plantation Gold, Plantation, FL (2-2)
25t. Amie Stewart’s CA Rebels, Bellflower, CA (2-2)
25t. So Cal Spoilers, Santa Clarita, CA (2-2)
25t. Fighting Irish, Kennesaw, GA (2-2)
25t. Katy Express Gold, Katy, TX (2-2)
25t. KC Shockwaves, Kansas City, MO (2-2)
25t. Mystixx, So. Houston, TX (2-2)
25t. Phoenix Storm Swan, Phoenix, AZ (2-2)
25t. Texas Eclipse Gold, Magnolia, TX (2-2)
33t. Arizona Alleycats, Tucson, AZ (1-2)
33t. Irvine Sting, Irvine, CA (2-2)
33t. Arizona Sun Cats Gold, Mesa, AZ (1-2)
33t. California Choppers, Valencia, CA (1-2)
33t. Gold Jitterbugs, Oklahoma City, OK (1-2)
33t. Impact Gold, Houston, TX (1-2)
33t. Kansas City Peppers, Olathe, KS (1-2)
33t. Lady Gators Gold, West Palm Beach, FL (1-2)
33t. Louisiana Reflection, Lafayette, LA (1-2)
33t. Oklahoma Twisters, Norman, OK (1-2)
33t. Oregon Panthers Gold, Salem, OR (1-2)
33t. Salinas Storm Gold, Salinas, CA (1-2)
33t. San Diego Co Breakers, Cardiff, CA (1-2)
33t. San Diego Renegades, San Diego, CA (1-2)
33t. Wichita Katz Lemaster, Wichita, KS (1-2)
33t. Wildcats, Salinas, CA (1-2)
49t. California Lite, Rialto, CA (1-2)
49t. Colorado Comets Gold, Broomfield, CO (1-2)
49t. Colorado Legend Gold, Parker, CO (0-2)
49t. Echoes Gold, Omaha, NE (0-2)
49t. Flyers, Louisville, KY (0-2)
49t. Frost Falcons, Chattanooga, TN (0-2)
49t. Hot Stuff, Yorba Linda, CA (0-2)
49t. Houston Power Glowacz, Katy, TX (0-2)
49t. Georgia Elite Gold, Douglasville, GA (0-2)
49t. NJ Pride, Newark, NJ (0-2)
49t. NW Buzz, Sammamish, WA (0-2)
49t. Oklahoma Illusion, Broken Arrow, OK (0-2)
49t. TN Outlaws, Columbia, TN (0-2)
49t. Texas High Voltage Gold, Deer Park, TX (0-2)
49t. Washington Ladyhawks Gold, Auburn, WA (0-2)
49t. Worth Firecrackers, San Diego, CA (0-2)
65t. Shamrocks, Vienna, VA (0-2)
65t. Sure Fire, Glendora, CA (0-2)

2001 held in Marietta, Georgia on July 30 – August 5.

Champion – Katy Cruisers Gold, Katy, Texas
Runner Up – California Cruisers, La Palma, California

Simple logic dictates that it’s better to pitch to a batter with the bases loaded, rather than intentionally walk her. She might strike out, ground into a double play, pop up, whatever, but a run is in no way guaranteed.

California Cruisers manager Ron McCard agreed, choosing to pitch to Katy Cruisers cleanup hitter Iyhia McMichael in that situation Sunday.

On the second pitch, McMichael hit a grand slam that landed well beyond the left field fence to give the Katy Cruisers a 5-0 victory over California and their second consecutive ASA Girls Gold 18-and-under Fastpitch National Tournament championship in Marietta. Katy went 9-0 in the tournament, including two wins in pool play.

“This one’s just so much sweeter because we didn’t lose,” Katy manager Jimmy Lyons said. “And nobody’s ever won this back-to-back, so that makes it ever sweeter. It was destiny.”

Opposing coaches had taken the bat out of McMichael’s hands four times over the final two days out of respect for one of the tournament’s most dangerous hitters. But after Tina Boutelle, Sara Fitzgerald and Tiffany Anders hit consecutive singles in the third inning, California pitcher Summer Tobias had no choice but to pitch to McMichael.

“It was just so frustrating because I was in a slump, and all I wanted to do was go up there and hit,” McMichael said. “But I never really got that chance until they were absolutely forced to pitch to me.”

“Come on, what am I gonna do, walk her?” McCard said. “Even though she is one of the best hitters here, we still wanted to play the percent-ages and bet on a ground-out or a double play.”

Back in June, McMichael helped Katy defeat California in similar fashion in a national qualifier tournament by hitting an extra-inning double to score the winning run. Same pitcher, same pitch.

“She threw it to me in June, so I kinda felt what was coming,” McMichael said. “I just knew.”

Defending national champion Katy Cruisers Gold defeated Sudden Impact 3-0 behind 17 strikeouts from U.S. National Team player Cat Osterman on Saturday.

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Catherine Osterman, Katy Cruisers
P – Alicia Hollowell, Gordon’s Panthers
P – Summer Tobias, California Cruisers
C – Ashlee D’Errico, Gordon’s Panthers
1B – Jaclyn Holden, California Cruisers
2B – Dominique Lastrapes, Orange County Batbusters Haning
3B – Andrea Duran, Orange County Batbusters Haning
SS – Stephanie Churchwell, Orange County Batbusters
OF – Julie Watson, Southern California Athletics Gold
OF – Tina Boutelle, Katy Cruisers
OF – Carrie Hagen, California Cruisers
OF – Autumn Champion, Gordon’s Panthers
UTIL – Val Sevilla, California Cruisers
UTIL – Kelly Osburn, Katy Cruisers
UTIL – Tiffany Anders, Katy Cruisers

SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Meredith Cervenko, Batbusters-Haning
P – Kami Keiter, Colorado Comets
P – Cori VanDusen, Sudden Impact
C – Lauren Lappin, California Cruisers
1B – Christina Clark, Orange County Batbusters Haning
2B – Kendra Singley, Southern California Athletics Gold
3B – Jessica Vernaglia, California Cruisers
SS – Jennifer Johnson, Southern California Athletics Gold
OF – Kim Hopkin, Orange County Batbusters
OF – Katie Decker, Colorado Comets
OF – Adrienne Alo, Gordon’s Panthers
OF – Cameron Astiazaran, California Cruisers
UTIL – Melissa Sanchez, Sudden Impact
UTIL – Briana Bates, Colorado Comets
UTIL – Tara Henry, Orange County Batbusters Haning

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Katy Cruisers, Katy, TX (7-0)
2. California Cruisers, La Palma, CA (7-2)
3. Gordon’s Panthers, Fullerton, CA (9-2)
4. Colorado Comets, Broomfield, CO (5-2)
5t. Orange County Batbusters Haning, Santa Ana, CA (4-2)
5t. Sudden Impact, Riverside, CA (6-2)
7t. Southern California Athletics Gold, Montclair, CA (4-2)
7t. Orange County Batbusters, Garden Grove, CA (6-2)
9t. Tuff-E-Nuff, Chino Hills, CA (5-2)
9t. San Jose Lady Sharks, San Jose, CA (3-2)
9t. St. Louis Chaos, St. Louis, MO (3-2)
9t. Flash D’ Gold, Rancho Cucamonga, CA (3-2)
13t. West Bay Nuggets, Burlingame, CA (4-2)
13t. Paradise Valley Premier, Scottsdale, AZ (4-2)
13t. T.E. Elite, Madison, TN (4-2)
13t. Fighting Irish, Kennesaw, GA (3-2)
17t. Kc Lasers, Kansas City, MO (3-2)
17t. Strike Zone, Sunnyvale, CA (3-2)
17t. Tomball Hawks, Magnolia, TX (2-2)
17t. Stealth, Oklahoma City, OK (2-2)
17t. Colorado Legend, Parker, CO (2-2)
17t. Hot Stuff Gold, Yorba Linda, CA (2-2)
17t. Panthers Gold, Sylmar, CA (2-2)
17t. Worth Firecrackers Wardein, San Diego, CA (2-2)
25t. Louisiana Gold, Lafayette, LA (3-2)
25t. So. Cal Minor’s Gold, Mira Loma, CA (2-2)
25t. Valley Breeze, Agoura, CA (2-2)
25t. Parker Eagles, Chattanooga, TN (2-2)
25t. Maddogs Hileman, Alliance, OH (2-2)
25t. Southern California Rebels, Fullerton, CA (2-2)
25t. Echoes Gold, Ralston, NE (2-2)
25t. San Diego County Breakers Beddow, Cardiff, CA (2-2)
33t. Washington Ladyhawks, Renton, WA (2-2)
33t. Esko Ice, Duluth, MN (1-2)
33t. Spring Klein Hawks, Houston, TX (1-2)
33t. Vipers, Conyers, GA (1-2)
33t. Boone & Darr, Ann Arbor, MI (1-2)
33t. Plantation Gold, Plantation, FL (1-2)
33t. Riviera Beach Spirit, Riviera Beach, MD (1-2)
33t. Prestige Belles, San Clemente, CA (1-2)
33t. Runnin Rebels Gold Regalpa, Stockton, CA (1-2)
33t. Desoto Belles, DeSoto, KS (1-2)
33t. Shamrocks, Vienna, VA (1-2)
33t. Magic Gold, Missouri City, TX (1-2)
33t. Lady Bombers Gold, Clearwater, FL (1-2)
33t. Beach Girls, Brooklyn, NY (1-2)
33t. Orange County Rebels, Anaheim Hills, CA (1-2)
33t. Strikkers, San Jose, CA (2-2)
49t. Blazing Angels, Warminster, PA (2-2)
49t. Arizona Cats, Tucson, AZ (1-2)
49t. Chattanooga Stars, Chattanooga, TN (1-2)
49t. Huntsville Storm, Huntsville, AL (1-2)
49t. NJ Pride, Newark, NJ (0-2)
49t. Fresno Force Gold, Visalia, CA (0-2)
49t. Georgia Elite, Douglasville, GA (0-2)
49t. California Rebels, Bellflower, CA (0-2)
49t. Minors Gold Way, Corona, CA (0-2)
49t. So Cal Stealth, Thousand Oaks, CA (0-2)
49t. Lil Saints Gold, Phoenix, AZ (0-2)
49t. Redbirds, Washington, DC (0-2)
49t. Missouri War Cats, Wright City, MO (0-2)
49t. Southern Force, Johnston City, IL (0-2)
49t. Thunder, Chattanooga, TN (0-2)
49t. American Pastime Gold-Farnworth, Whittier, CA (1-2)
65t. Aphis Gold, Vancouver, WA (1-2)
65t. San Diego Thunder-Mateo, San Diego, CA (1-2)
65t. Texas Storm, Pasadena, TX (1-2)
65t. American Pastime Gold-Dutton, Rancho Cucamonga, CA (0-2)
65t. Indiana Heat, Arcadia, IN (0-2)