ASA Fast Pitch National
Champions 10U-18 Gold
Sorcerers go Undefeated at
ASA Gold National Championships
By Michael Lee
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—With a list of firsts set by many teams in the 2009 ASA National Championships at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex, the 18 Gold Sorcerers- Phil (Vallejo, CA) decided that they were not going to be left out of the loop. “To go 7-0 for their first ASA Gold national title, Sorcerers Gold defeated the defending 2008 Gold National Champions, the Gold Coast Hurricanes (Plantation, FL) 3-1, in the championship game,” said Sorcerers head coach Phil Mumma.Credited to the outstanding tight-knit team and flawless cooperation, the Sorcerers avenged their loss to the defending national champions—The Gold Coast Hurricanes.
“One reason Sorcerers won was because of the outstanding play of Ricketts (San Jose, CA), who will attend the University of Oklahoma this fall,” Mumma said. “Ricketts limited the Hurricanes to only three hits and one run while striking out eight in going the distance in a 97-pitch performance, while walking only one batter.”
“Her performance was impressive throughout the tournament,” Mumma continued. “She won all of her team’s seven games and fanned 58 batters in 47 innings, allowing 15 hits while only walking eight batters and drove in six runs while batting .444.”
However, Ricketts was only a fraction of the team’s success as much of the Sorcerer’s success came from talent across the team.
Shenise Cox had an RBI single in the championship game against the Gold Coast Hurricanes.
“The Sorcerers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a Tylyn Wells’ (Concord, CA) single scoring Jessica Vest (Hollister, CA), who had singled to open the inning and was sacrificed to second,” Mumma explained. “Wells also brought home the first Sorcerer run in the third inning of the championship game with a double inside the right field foul line.”
On their march toward their first ASA National Title, the Sorcerers triumphed over well-known teams such as the Worth Firecrackers 3-1 and Worth Hurricanes 2-0. In addition, they also defeated Tulsa Shootout Gold 2-1, Texas Hawks Gold in an 8-0 shutout, Nashville Cruisers 4-0, Jersey Intensity Gold 4-1, and Team North Florida in a 6-0 shutout.
“In the winner’s bracket final on Sunday morning, the Sorcerers blanked the Worth Hurricanes, who had won its last four games by one-run margins,” Mumma commented. “The Sorcerers scored single runs in the third and sixth inning to advance to the championship round and remain as the tourney’s lone undefeated team.”
“Emily Allard’s (Antioch, CA) two-out single brought across the first run in the third inning for the team,” he said. “The Sorcerers added another run in the top of the seventh on a double by Cox.”
While the Sorcerers claimed their right to appear in the championship game of the ASA Nationals, their eventual competition had their work cut out for them. After dropping to the loser’s bracket early in the tournament, the Hurricanes won nine consecutive games to square off with the Sorcerers in the deciding game for the national title.
“Gold Coast had advanced to the championship game by eliminating the Worth Firecrackers, 3-1, in the third place game earlier Sunday,” Mumma stated.
While both teams fought valiantly during the game, the rested Sorcerers were just too much for a team that had played 10 straight games in the tournament.
“In the bottom of the seventh, the Hurricanes went down in order, which ended the game and their magnificent run through the tourney as they finished with a 10-2 record, winning nine consecutive games in the loser’s bracket before losing in the championship game,” Mumma outlined.
“Ricketts also had three of her team’s nine hits—which came off four Gold Coast pitchers—in the championship game with a single in the second and a double to left center leading off the top of the fourth.”
As a team that has been in the thick of it all season long, winning the national championship was a perfect way to cap off an incredible year.
18U Tampa Mustangs Kill Three Birds
With One Stone in ASA 18U Nationals
By Michael Lee
LAS VEGAS, NV—For the first time in the more than twenty-nine years that the organization has existed, the Tampa Mustangs captured the title in the ASA 18U Nationals, which took place at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, NV. In addition to winning their first national championship for their organization, the Mustangs also achieved another first for the state in which they represent.
“We are the first Florida team to ever win the 18U ‘A’ USA/ASA National tile,” said Tampa Mustangs head coach Walt Rozanski. “We won 10 games in a row, including pool play and championship bracket play, scoring 70 runs and allowing 16 with 12 home-runs, and a dozen stolen bases, while forcing many errors with tenacious base running and unbelievable defense.”
In the more than one hundred thirty nine teams that were in the running to become national champions, the Mustangs held out in the extreme Nevadan heat.
“It was the team chemistry that led to their success in each game,” Rozanski said. “Every player took on their responsibility and when they were called upon, they delivered.”
The philosophy used each game was that which surrounded the idea of unification. This meant that each of the seventeen players contributing when they could with a “punch ‘em in the nose” attitude that lasted throughout the championship play. Whether they were picking each other up in the outfield or cheering for each other from the sidelines, the Mustangs knew how to keep the integrity of the team in-tact.
“The Tampa Mustangs team is comprised of eighteen players, the majority of whom are from the greater Tampa Bay area with a few from other parts of Florida,” Rozanski explained. “Over 95% of this team is either signed or verbally committed to play for a university or college on the east coast of the United States.”
This is a very impressive feat for a team, and a state, that has just claimed its first national title.
“The Vegas tournament site, Majestic Park, saw exceptional pitching from Lindsey Richardson (Ft. Meyers HS/ Univ. of South Fl.), Olivia Kline (Mitchell HS/ Jacksonville Univ.) and Abby Tewet (Bartram Trails HS) along with the overwhelming ‘perfect’ defensive efforts by Maddie O’Brien (Palm Harbor Univ./Fl. State Univ.), Reagan Knapik (Wiregrass HS/ Gulf Coast Univ.), Brittany Knipp (Stetson Univ.), and Stephanie Medina (Chamberlain HS/ Univ. of South Fl.), Ashley Schnitzler ( Plant HS) and Stormi Gryzbek (Cooper City HS/Univ. of South Fl.),” Rozanski stated. “Offensively there was no defense that could match the power of the Mustang bats with Nicollette Levine (Newsome HS/Univ. of FL.), Kirsten Bembnowski (East Lake HS/ Gulf Coast Univ.), Kasey Murray (Land O Lakes HS), Medina and O’Brien.”
“The thing that overwhelmed just about every TEAM the Mustangs played was the chaos that they created on the base paths where players Ashley and Courtney Goff (Sickles HS/ Univ. of South Fl), Alyese Stapf (Sickles HS/ Univ. of Fl.), Loren Smith (Land O Lakes / Indian River CC), Knipp, and O’Brien aggressively created enough havoc to force at least a dozen throwing errors, which contributed to the 70 runs scored,” Rozanski continued.
The last game proved that dreams do come true for the Tampa Mustangs organization,” said Rozanski. “The players, coaches and parents were proud when the five tools of this team’s chemistry overcame the Elyria Sundogs in the championship game.”
“O'Brien's two-run double keyed a four-run fifth inning to win 7-5 and capture this once in-a- life time championship,” Rozanski continued. “O'Brien's bases-loaded double plated Bembnowski and Stapf. Knipp scored on the play when she slid home and kicked the ball out of Elyria catcher Jen Bower's mitt. O'Brien came around to score when the ball rolled to the backstop, giving Tampa a 6-2 lead. Bembnowski started the scoring with a two-run home run in the second inning.”
Top that with a pinch hit solo home run by Kasey Murray, Tess Sito's three-run homer in the seventh and a double by Devan Boggs and that was game.
Their journey ended here at the 2009 ASA Nationals with a perfect end to their story. With a team who’s success began months ago, the 18U Tampa Mustangs now sit at the top of ASA 18U competition.
Northwest Blaze, “Come Back Kids” at ASA 16U Nationals
By Dave Utnik
She was a national champion and the celebration taking place near home plate pretty much confirmed that.
All Inglesby had to do was get there.
The Northwest Blaze had rallied again — this time defeating the Arizona Killer Bees, 5-4, on a three-run, seventh-inning home run by the rising Central Catholic High School senior.
Inglesby’s dramatic blast over the right-field fence capped a relentless charge out of the losers’ bracket and provided a sudden, yet appropriate, finish to the 16U ASA National Championship Tournament.
“Ending in a walk-off home run, could it be any better?” Blaze head coach Chris Kelly said. “These girls always believed they could win it all. They had a unified attitude to never give up.”
Even when they trailed by four runs, three innings into the championship game, the Blaze never stopped believing they could win.
All tournament long, they’d found one way or another to rally — pulling off six victories in their final at-bat and winning 13 straight games over the final two days.
“They kept battling back. Every player contributed to this championship. You never knew where the key hit or clutch defensive play was going to come from, but someone always came through.”
For an entire year, they were twelve girls with one unifying goal — inspired by a seventh-place finish in 2008 and determined to reach Sioux Falls, SD as a contender in their second season as a 16U team.
“The way we did it speaks for the team’s strong desire to accomplish goals set last year,” coach Kelly said. “This team played like a team in the true sense of the word — on and off the field. They supported and encouraged each other even in the offseason, during winter workouts, through high school ball when many of the girls’ teams played each other, and in the Blaze season through nationals.”
An unyielding camaraderie resulted in one of the postseason’s most inspiring winning streaks as the Blaze recovered from a 2-1 loss against the West Jersey Witches to win five games on Saturday and six more on Sunday. They went 16-1 against a 164-team field to wrap up a remarkable 57-3 summer that also featured first-place finishes at the prestigious Colorado Fireworks and Best of the West tournaments.
“To establish a goal a year earlier and then accomplish that goal is not only a great feeling but looking back through the season and understanding the time and hard work these players put themselves through was an unbelievable accomplishment,” said assistant coach Rob Ray, after the Blaze won back-to-back games in walk-off fashion against the Killer Bees to clinch the first-place trophy.
Grants Pass High School senior Krystin Jantzer beat the Bees with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the seventh in the first championship game and there were plenty of other clutch plays throughout the week.
Abby Komin, a rising junior at Southridge High School, threw a runner out at the plate from left field with the bases loaded to help preserve a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Styxx and the Blaze received dominating pitching performances from Glencoe High School’s Sloan Anderson, Morgan Barnes, of Grants Pass, and Inglesby.
An offense that generated 94 runs had its share of big hits as well. Elizabeth Brenner, a rising junior at Jesuit High, homered in three games and the Blaze rallied to beat the Styxx on a two-run single by Tara Glover in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Jordan Kreiger, a rising junior at Glencoe High, hit a three-run homer to highlight an 8-0 win over the Birmingham Vipers and Roosevelt senior Izzy Batayola drove in the winning run just before time expired in a 3-2 victory over the Indiana Shockwave.
But it was Inglesby’s final blast — following base hits by Alyssa Gillespie and Glover — that finally fulfilled a year-long dream.
“Once the home run was hit the excitement of winning that final game was amazing,” coach Ray said. “As time passed that night in the celebration and, later in the evening, the players, parents and coaches still looked around at each other and still had to remind ourselves that we actually won the national championship.”
Victory USA,Victorious at 14U ASA Nationals
By Dave Utnik
Her team was one win away from capturing the 2009 Class A 14U ASA National Championship and Fredericks had everything under control.
“She began to come on for us at the end of the season and really stepped up during the tournament,” Victory USA coach Mark Campbell said.
Having dealt with older, more experienced teams throughout the season, Fredericks was prepared for the Corona Angels when the two California-based rivals met for the third time in Marietta, Ga.
And she delivered her best performance of the summer — allowing two hits and striking out four in a complete-game 7-0 shutout as Victory USA added to its growing legacy by securing the organization’s sixth ASA national championship since 2000.
A year after the 14U squad finished second in Midland, Texas, Victory USA went 10-1, outscored opposing teams, 86-7, and avenged a 2-1 eight-inning loss to the Corona Angels to earn the first-place trophy.
“The girls jumped out of their cleats after the final out,” coach Campbell said. “They could not have been happier. To beat a team like the Corona Angels twice was more than we could ask for.”
Relying on the same selfless play that has become the team’s trademark, Victory USA recorded six shutouts and reached the championship round in suspenseful fashion as Sierra Romero narrowly beat a throw home from shortstop in the sixth inning to clinch a 1-0 victory over the Corona Eliminators.
“We had a really tough game against the Corona Angels, losing in the international tiebreaker on Saturday night. Emily Lockman threw a great game for Corona and we had to come back the next morning and face the Corona Eliminators, who played a great game with solid pitching and defense.”
In their fifth season together since finishing second in the 10U competition in 2005, the Victory USA squad has practically grown up together. They won a national title at 12U and will likely move on as a group to 16U.
“We have a great deal of depth on the team and they are willing to make sacrifices to win,” coach Campbell said. “Several of the players are willing to play positions that they don’t normally play to make the team better.”
Not surprisingly, contributions came from all over the field.Brittany Moeai caught virtually every inning of the tournament and was spectacular behind the plate and Darian Tautalafua hit a towering home run in a 5-0 triumph over the Georgia Crusaders and Erika Campbell and Mo Mercado went 4 for 4 in a 19-2 win over the Orlando Sparks.
Celinna Cosio, Hanna Sommer, Kati Mauga, Coco Taualii, Sahvanna Jaquish and Danica Mercado also has multi-hit games for Victory USA. Pitching, however, is the team’s heart and soul with Fredericks and Jennifer Hartman — the pair of aces who were nearly unhittable all tournament long — showcasing their outstanding arsenals and Selene Pola and Danica Bishop providing quality innings throughout the summer.
“This team is so special because they work so well together,” coach Campbell said.
That was especially true when it mattered most. After edging the Eliminators, Victory USA had to essentially sweep a championship doubleheader against the Corona Angels to win the title.
Campbell delivered a bases-loaded, fourth-inning double to spark a 7-2 victory in game one and then Fredericks took over in the circle.
“It's a great feeling to accomplish something like this. I have won four other national championships prior to this year and they all feel great. I live for the expression on the girls’ faces when they win,” coach Campbell said. “They give up so much throughout the year committing themselves to the team, that when they finally get it done their faces say everything.”
Power Surge ’96 Is Electrifying In 12U ASA Nationals
By Anthony Bronson
“Everyone was crying including me,” said Power Surge ’96 head coach Scott Berndes. “Normally we high five the girls after a win, but after winning the national championship I took my time and hugged each girl and told them how great they were.”
For a team that came together just two years ago in the 11 and under division, the girls have matured far beyond their age.
“We took some beatings early on, but started to really come together,” Berndes said. “We were lucky enough to qualify for the ASA Nationals up in Northern California and were one of only 4 11U teams to go to the 2008 ASA Nationals in Montgomery, AL. We did not do well, but I think the experience really helped us become ASA National Champions this year.”
And their prior experience was apparent in their near flawless play during the 2009 season. With a record of 92-7-1, the Power Surge ’96 seemed to be invincible going into the national tournament.
Success came knocking early and often for the Surge this year. After winning the Southern California ASA State Tournament, Fresno Force Classic Tournament, Huntington Beach Surf City Tournament, Palm Springs Big League Dreams, Pre-States Revenge Tournament and the Saboba USSSA 14U Pre-Nationals Tournament, the girls from San Diego only had one more milestone to establish—becoming the national champions.
“First of all, we had a record that is almost unbelievable,” Berndes Commented. “I thought I would never be able to coach ASA National Champions. There are so many great teams and to be able to be the best in the country is truly amazing.”
“We had the best pitching in the country with Sara White, Selena Taamilo, and Kaylie Hill, who combined for a .079 ERA and that is truly amazing,” Berndes explained. “We had four leftie Slappers who ran past the competition with Erin Mario, Anna Barkhimer, Katie Schultz, and Julea Cavazos.”
“In addition, we have great power hitters in Rebecca Dvorak, Katie Byrd, Alicia Brown, Tiana Miller, and Abigail Metsch.” “And to cap it off, we have the best catcher in the country, Carlee Wallace, who led the team in almost every category.”
With threats in every aspect of the game, it should come as no surprise that the Power Surge shocked their competition on and off of the field. They went 7-0 in the tournament, with 5 of those wins coming as shutouts.
On their way to the game that would decide their fate in the national standings, the girls of the Surge saw dramatic victories over American Liberty Cruzers-Texas in an 8-0 shutout victory, the Corona Angels- Lockman 9-0, Team Fury- Texas 8-0, Lady Laser Black-Ohio, Diamonds ’96-Texas and Jynx-California 2-0.
With a rematch against Jynx on the horizon, the game would turn out to be one of the toughest that the Power Surge had to get through all year.
“Jynx came out strong and scored in the first inning on two Power Surge errors,” Berndes explained. “Power Surge tied it up in the 5th inning on a great hit by Kaylie Hill.”
With both teams neck-and-neck and coming down the home stretch, Jynx pulled away once again in the bottom of the fifth to a 2-1 lead. Answering their call in the sixth inning, Rebecca Dvorak scored the run to put the Power Surge back on track for a national title.
Going to an international tiebreaker, it was do-or-die for both teams. In the top of the extended inning, the Power Surge put the nail in the coffin when Dvorak, once again, came to the rescue and scored 2 of the 3 runs with a double that inning.
Being too far in the hole, Jynx reciprocated with only one run in the bottom of the eighth and fell to the Surge by a final score of 5-3, while the Power Surge brought the 12U national title back to San Diego.
“We played the best of the best,” Berndes finished. “The teams from Texas and the south were truly outstanding and it made for a difficult run to the championship.”
Victory USA Solidifies Triumph In ASA 10U Nationals
By Dave Utnik
After all, it’s hard to keep a straight face when a dozen or so 10-year-old girls are trying to sing a cappella into a cell phone.
Victory USA softball coach Mark Campbell still considers it priceless, especially given the circumstances.
Following a 9-2 victory over the Georgia Cobras that secured the 2009 10U ASA National Championship, the excited winners called to share the news with Campbell, who was in the process of celebrating a title with the 14U squad.
“These are the little things I will always remember,” he said. “And that is why I do this.”
In just two travel seasons, the youngest members of the Victory USA softball family have quickly adopted the organization’s winning tradition.
Following a first-place performance at the Southern California State Tournament, the 10U team went 7-1 and battled through the losers’ bracket following an opening day loss to the Southern California Crush to claim the title.
“To win two national championships on the same day is a feeling I have trouble describing. I am so happy for all of the players, coaches and the parents who worked so hard the entire season,” coach Campbell said. “I could not be any prouder of a group of girls.”
With Campbell also guiding the 14U squad, Robert Young and Brian Gutierrez co-directed the championship journey — one that featured a six-game winning streak and back-to-back triumphs over the Cobras in the finals.
Pitchers Breanna Gutierrez and Stephanie Best opened tournament play by combining on a no-hitter against Georgia Extreme and teamed up for all seven tournament wins.
Not even a one hour rain delay in the final game could slow Victory USA down thanks in part to a four-RBI game from outstanding catcher Deja Mulipola, who tripled in two runs in the second inning and had a two-run single in the fourth. There were other clutch performances as well.
Alyssa Barrera doubled in the game-winning run against Cerritos Franchise (2-0) and Alyssa Pelegrin came through with a tie-breaking single in a 2-1 win over American Athletics.
“The competition was tough,” coach Campbell said. “The Southern California Crunch, Cerritos Franchise and American Athletics were teams we played in the tournament that we had hard-fought games against. We played all three of them throughout the season since they are also from Southern California.”
After Gutierrez and Best combined for 10 strikeouts against Georgia Extreme to open tournament play, Victory USA spent the rest of the competition recovering from a 6-2 loss to the Crunch and their star hitter Alyssa Diaz.
There were big hits in every game — with key contributions coming from Montana Dixon, Taylon Snow, Mack Boesel, Bailey Henkie and Jaymee Campbell — until only the Cobras (and a rain shower) stood between Victory USA and a national title.
Gutierrez tossed a three-hitter and struck out eight in a 5-0 victory that forced a deciding game and then Best sent everyone searching for a cell phone with a complete-game pitching performance that was complemented by Mulipola’s four RBI and run-scoring hits from Boesel, Dixon and Pelegrin.
“From the time they started playing in the fall they continued to grow as a team,” coach Campbell said. “We only practiced one day a week because of the distance the kids travel to be on the team. But as the season went along, the girls began to understand what it took to win.”
