The 18U Shamrocks continued their winning ways as they dominated the 25-team field at the Pegasus Invitational in Lionville, PA this past weekend. The “Rocks” were a perfect 8-0 in the tournament outscoring their opponents by a combined margin of 33-4 and raising their overall record to 45 wins versus only 2 losses on the season. The Shamrocks picked up pool play wins on Saturday versus the NJ Inferno (5-0), the Springford Stealers (2-0) and the Michigan Oilers (4-0). They also defeated the host Pegasus team by a score of 11-1 in a non-tournament game on Saturday night.

      Sunday featured one more pool game before the elimination rounds began. Needing a win over the New Jersey Devils, the team that eliminated them a year ago in the same tournament, the Shamrocks came out pumped up and ready to play. University of Tennessee bound Christy Anch nearly tossed a perfect game as she allowed only a 2-out infield single in the last inning after retiring the first 20 batters in order, 17 of which came via strikeouts. Anch also had something to do with the game’s only run as she ripped a lead off double in the second inning - Dani Woods followed with an RBI single to plate the game’s only run.

      The top seeded Shamrocks then faced a very good Michigan Oilers team with several Big 10 college players including a University of Michigan pitcher in the quarterfinals of the single elimination round. Anch was again on the mound for the Shamrocks and the game was scoreless through 7 innings. Using the International Tie Breaker in the 8th, the Shamrocks plated 2 runs on a double by Virginia Tech bound Kelly Brown who later scored on an error giving the Shamrocks a 3-0 lead. The Rocks traded 2 outs for a run in the Oilers 8th inning and advanced to the semi-finals with a 3-1 win.

      In the semi-finals, Brittany Detwiler (Souderton, PA) shut down the Hudson Valley Express on a 3-hitter with 10 strikeouts. After spotting the Express a 2-0 lead in the top of the 3rd inning, the Shamrocks bats came alive with 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd and 3 more in the 4th as they advanced to the finals with a 6-2 victory. Courtney Bures (Stonewall Jackson HS), Christy Anch and Dani Woods (McDonough HS) each tripled in the 6 run outburst for the Shamrocks. Caitlin Murphy (Virginia Tech) who went 7 for 13 on Saturday, had 2 hits and 2 RBI’s as well.

      The Championship Game featured a rematch of the Pennsbury Invitational semi-final between the Shamrocks and the Conklin Raiders from New York. Having defeated the Raiders 5-0 in that game, the Shamrocks knew their opponents would show ready to play with revenge on their minds. Christy Anch took the mound once again in her 3rd game of the day for the Shamrocks and managed a 1-0 Championship win. The game’s only run came in the 2nd inning when Anch doubled down the left field line and Dani Woods followed with a sharp RBI single up the middle. Meanwhile, Christy Anch, battling heat, humidity and fatigue, relied primarily on her location and control as she managed only 4 strikeouts but yielded only 3 hits and did not allow a walk.

      For the tournament, Christy Anch and Brittany Detwiler were both 4-0 in the circle as they combined for 71 strikeouts in 55 innings. Anch also led the offense going 9 for 18 with 4 doubles, a triple and 3 rbi’s. Caitlin Murphy batted .462 with a double and 5 rbi’s and Keri Lounge (Spalding HS) batted .455 with 2 doubles, 5 rbi’s and the team’s only home run of the tournament. Christine Sheridan (Spalding HS) also had a good tournament batting .389 and Brooke Sorber (Mount Vernon HS) batted .333.

      The Shamrocks, now 45-2 on the season will leave for Raleigh, NC on Friday where they will play in the Carolina Cardinals tournament over the weekend and then remain in town for the PONY National Tournament from July 29–August 3. The Shamrocks then return home for a day before heading of to Broken Arrow, OK for the ASA Gold National Tournament. The Shamrocks were the 2001 PONY National runner-up as they fell 1-0 to the Florida Lady Gators in the Championship game last year in Sterling, VA.