14U Shamrocks Win ASA Metros Championship
By Joan Haller
| The 14U Shamrocks defeated the Vienna Stars in the championship game
of the DC ASA Metro Tournament to earn a berth to the ASA National tournament
in Normal, Illinois July 28 through August 2. On Championship Sunday, the Shamrocks played the Vienna Stars 3 times, defeating them twice. All three games went to an international tiebreaker, with the first game being decided in the 10th inning on an RBI single by Katie Nutaitis. In the bottom of the 7th, with the Shamrocks down 1-0, Kelly Haller hit a home run over the center field fence to tie the game sending it into extra innings. Brittany Gardner pitched the complete game giving up 4 hits and striking out eight. During the second game, the score was tied at 0-0 after regulation play. In the 9th inning, Megan Elliott of the Stars hit an RBI double to score the winning run. Kelley Engman pitched the complete game, giving up 5 hits and striking out 7. In the third game, it was again a scoreless tie after seven innings. In the 9th, Kelly Haller hit a double to center that scored one run. After Samantha Ingersoll singled, Lauren Mernin hit a single to center that scored both runners and gave the Shamrocks a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the 9th, the Stars scored once before Megan Elliott hit a liner to Sam at shortstop. Sam made a great shoestring catch and doubled the runner off first, ending the game with the score 3-1. Brittany Gardner pitched another great game, giving up only 3 hits and striking out 9. Throughout the day, the Shamrock team came through. There were numerous fielding gems, including a play by Carolyn Jones in right field to throw out a runner at first for the final out of the inning when the runner coming home would have ended the game. There was the tag at home by Dorian Shaw to get another runner out during the tiebreaker. There were sacrifice bunts and bunts for hits by Allie Heon, Tiffany Sanders and Carolyn Jones to move runners ahead. Running catches were made in the outfield by Lauren Mernin and Cassie McGaha; scoops at first base by Katie Nutaitis and Dorian Shaw, and great speed by Reba Tutt. In 28 innings of play, the Shamrocks committed only one error, they had great pitching, and against two all-Met pitchers, they got the hits when they needed them. Great tournament SHAMROCKS!!! |
