18U Pool Play: USA Elite Select WFC Recap
The USA Elite Select World Fastpitch Championship is underway. Teams checked-in Monday, then proceed to the T-Bones Stadium for opening ceremonies and a tailgate party. They then returned to the stadium to watch/meet some of their favorite professional softball players. Pool play started on Tuesday and ended Wednesday afternoon.
Wichita Mustangs 18U vs. Tulsa Shootout 18 Gold
The Wichita Mustangs and the Tulsa Shootout Gold competed in an 18U pool play game Tuesday afternoon at the Mid-America Sports Complex in Kansas. The Tulsa Shootout Gold came from behind after Madilyn Joice, a Mercer University commit, hit a solo shot over left field in the fifth inning to tie the game 1-1. The Tulsa Shootout held onto that tie in the bottom of the same inning with a heads-up double play by shortstop Kamarie Wallace (Southeastern Oklahoma State University). Kylie Helm took control at the plate with a rocket to center field for a three-run home run in the sixth to lead 4-1. Wallace also contributed a two-run homer in the seventh to add some security runs. Pitcher Lauren Watkins (Missouri Valley College) pitched all seven innings, had four strikeouts and allowed just five hits.
On the mound for the Mustangs was Gulf Coast State commit, Brittany Crowson. The right-hander is from Bentonville, Arkansas and held her own on the mound helping her team go 1-1 for the day by dominating with her different locations and movement on the ball. Crowson called for help and handed control over to Lauryn Odgen (Newman University). Also helping the Mustangs with dynamic range at third was WSU commit, Adeline Reese. Though the Mustangs pitching and fielding were solid, the Tulsa Shootout Gold took the game 6-1.
NW Batbusters 18 Gold – Seek vs. Mississippi Glory 18U – Lewis
The NW Batbusters Gold – Seek and the Mississippi Glory squad gave us a pitching battle in pool play Tuesday. The NW Batbusters had left-hander and Towson commit Sara Johnson in the circle. Johnson posted eight strikeouts in this game and three consecutive K’s in the fourth to retire the side. The NW Batbusters -Seek broke it open in the third with a two-run double by Jordan Schroeder.
Kenley Hawk spun the game for the Mississippi Glory, racking up seven strikeouts. A line drive double in the first inning to right by Kendall Graham, started things off for the Glory. Directly after that, Batbusters pitcher walked one before Graham’s double and then two more after, resulting in a run walked in. Though the Glory scored first in the top of the first, they couldn’t manage to answer the NW Batbusters rebuttal and dropped a 2-1 game.
OC Batbusters 18U – Stith vs. Dirt Devils 18U Elite
On Wednesday morning, the OC Batbusters – Stith took a 7-5 win over the Dirt Devils Elite for the Pool A Championship title. Madi Elish took control of the rubber for the Batbusters and gave the Dirt Devils very little to hit. Elish kept her pitches away from the batters and showed dominance in the circle early on before handing the ball over to lefty and University of Oklahoma commit, Alanna Thiede. Thiede then tagged Elish back in to finish the game after allowing a couple runs. After a 3-0 lead in the first, the third inning was also a big inning for the Batbusters. Alyssa Birto (Oregon) gave herself an RBI with a base hit to right center and Giulia Koutsoyanopulos (Arizona) crushed a ball to right for two RBIs.
Ashley Platek was on the mound for the Dirt Devils Elite for three innings allowing eight hits, but no walks before calling on Maddie Corwell to finish the last two. Coming back from a seven-run deficit in the third is not an easy task, but the Dirt Devils were determined to do just that. Scoring five before the games end, Amanda Weyh, Morgan Gersch, Kamry Murphy, and Maggie Joutras contributed RBIs for the Dirt Devils squad. Though they came up just short of a win, the team made a ferocious comeback to keep the Batbusters on their toes towards the end.
