Warriors finish the season strong! Take 3rd Place at the USSSA 14A Nationals at Disneyworld's Wide World of Sports!
Congratulations Girls!
7-2
2002 USSSA Nationals
Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex
7/30/02
1st Pool Game
The 14A Lady Warriors went extra innings in a 2 hour 10 minute scorcher at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida and beat the Terror from Pennsylvania 7-6. The Warriors maintained a lead since the 1st inning when they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. The Terror battled back and tied the game as time expired. Moving into International Tie-Breaker format after the 6th inning, the Lady Warriors got out of a major jam in the first extra inning, with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the 7th. The Warriors scored 2 runs in the top of the eighth and it was enough to cover the Terror's lone run in the bottom of the 8th to take the win! Brittany Joseph went 3 for 4 and had 3 RBI's. Sophia Johnson pitched a strong game, holding the Terror to 1 run until a late rally tied the game.
2nd Pool Game
The 14A Lady Warriors powered over the Schaumburg Sluggers from Illinois, run-ruling them after 6 innings 9-1. Courtney Kelley threw for the Warriors and over-powered the Illinois club while helping her cause with a 3-RBI triple. Lindsay LaRocque blasted a long double to the fence as well to highlight the Warrior's hitting.
7/31/02
3rd Pool Game
The Lady Warriors won their Pool, taking their last pool game 5-2 and are 3-0 in the USSSA Nationals. Jessica Rayman pitched a strong game with 5 strike outs and kept the Web City Wahoo's off balance all game with off speed and her great drop ball.
The Warriors begin bracket play tomorrow at 9:45.
1st Bracket Game
The Lady Warriors began the day beating the California Wildfire 7-2. Sophia Johnson started the game on the mound and held the Wildfire off balance for most of the game until Ali Davenport came in for relief, returning to the mound for the first time in a month, after suffering a broken wrist in the Colorado Classic Tournament.
2nd Bracket Game
An All-Colorado quarter final match up with the Lady Warriors squaring off against a familiar opponent, the Blue Buckaroos from Ft. Collins. The game was tied 2-2 until the Warrior bats came alive, pounding out hit after hit, winning the game by run-rule 10-2! Jessica Rayman was on the mound and once again mastering the off-speed and change-up pitches to keep the Bucs off balance all game.
3rd Bracket Game
The Warriors lost their first game of the USSSA Nationals to a tough Berwin-Cisero Bash team from Illinois. The Bash took advantage of only 2 hits from the Warriors to give them their first tournament defeat.
8/3/02
Losers Bracket:
(Gm1) The Warriors battled back in the bottom of the 7th Inning to regain the lead from the Fairfax Firebirds and won 3-2.
(Gm2)The Warriors were losing 2-0 going into the bottom of the 7th inning against the Terror from Pennsylvania. The Warriors showed all the heart anyone could ask for and battled back to take the game 3-2, moving into the finals of the Consolation bracket. Only 3 teams remain in the hunt for the National Championship.
Consolation Final
The Warriors were leading the Colorado Stars 3-0 in the top of the 5th when the rains came and forced a rain-delay. After the game resumed, the Warriors struggled with the wet conditions and coupled with some timely hitting by the Stars, lost 4-5 and bowed out of the Nationals with a 3rd Place finish and a National Tournament record of 7-2.
Ali Davenport, Courtney Kelley and Bonita Nuanez were all named to the All-World Team!
What a fantastic season!
