Get on board with Extra Inning Softball’s regular feature, The Last Inning
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
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Here’s our TLI for Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 …
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FIRECRACKERS WEIL 2024 BLOW UP IN AZ
Like many California teams, Firecrackers Weil 2024 had very opportunities to showcase their skills on a big stage in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, but Rob Weil’s Firecrackers seized the opportunity this MLK holiday weekend at the PGF AZ2 Winter Invitational in Queen Creek, AZ.
The Firecrackers went 8-0 in the the tournament, beating Virginia Unity-Johnson, 8-2, in the 14U championship game on Monday afternoon at Desert Mountain Park.
2024 C/3B Alyssa Ramos went 2 for 3 with a three-run home run and 2024 P/OF Brianne Weiss allowed four hits, one earned run and struck out 15 in seven innings to get the complete game win for the Firecrackers in the finals.
“The kids played very well, the coaches were on point in all the decisions made this weekend and the kids executed very well,” said Coach Weil, who was unable to make the trip to Arizona. “The pitchers kept us in every game.”
The Firecrackers and Unity were knotted, 1-1, when the Firecrackers exploded for five runs during a two-out rally in the top of the fifth off Birmingham Thunderbolts 2024-Burns lefty Jayden Heavener, #11 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, who was guest playing with the Unity and had been on fire all weekend.
Ramos hit a three-run bomb to left field and Amanda Urbina had an RBI double and scored on an error to give the Firecrackers a 6-1 lead in the top of the fifth.
2024 C/1B Marilyn Beauvais had an RBI double and 2024 C/3B Presley Lawton drove in a run with a ground out to short to extend the Firecrackers’ lead to 8-1 in the top of the seventh.
The Firecrackers beat Athletics Mercado 2024-Hovermale, 1-0, Ohio Hawks, 4-0, and Arizona Hotshots 2024, 13-0, in pool play. Then they defeated Firecrackers CC Ramos, 3-1, Lil Saints Kaddatz, 15-0, Athletics Mercado-Walker 2024, 6-1, Athletics Mercado 2024-Hovermale, 2-0, and Virginia Unity in bracket play to take the title.
Josh Johnson‘s Unity squad, which went 6-2, beat Firecrackers CC Ramos, 2-0, lost to Sorcerer-Bigley/Everett, 10-5, and beat Explosion AZ-Mabrey, 6-1, in pool play. In bracket play, Unity defeated Rogue FC Bearden 2024, 10-2, Ohana Tigers-Indian, 7-0, I-5 Softball, 6-5, and Lil Rebels RC/DJ/LW, 6-1, before losing to the Firecrackers in the finals.
Kudos to Heavener, even with the title game loss. She was one of only two pitchers and 10 players total on the Unity, which still made it all the way to the championship game. The freshman had four home runs over the 220-foot fences during the event and 14 RBIs while in the circle she pitched 22 innings with only one earned run allowed versus 32 strikeouts.
BEACH REPS
On the way to the USSSA Select 30 Camp in Orlando, FL, some of the girls stopped off at the beach for some reps.
https://twitter.com/AlaynaGaddy/status/1350196645904982022
🌞🌊beach reps!!🌊🌞@rittmanjohn @CoachPatrick_ @DukeCoachYoung @Coach_JBloomer @J_Cottrill_ @SwiftCoach @CoachBallMalone @KendraKirkhoff @CoachTylka @UGACoachTony @Coach_Jo4444 @UVASoftball @Coach_LaPorte @oliviaadyan @chelsw20 @KarenWeekly pic.twitter.com/3ydFnsMyx1
— Gaby Mizelle (@GabyMizelle) January 15, 2021
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
18s working some skills with All American Lea Ann Jarvis!! Thirsty Thursdays for these ladies, we 👀 you!!! @Los_Stuff @ExtraInningSB @IHartFastpitch @rickcowan68 @UncommittedUsa @TCSFastpitch @ondecksoftball @PGFnetwork @SoftballNetwork pic.twitter.com/qa0molVB8A
— Lil Rebels RC (@LilRebelsRC) January 15, 2021
Thankful we play softball better than we dance… enjoyed being back on the field today! Got some work in against a few 18u teams and held our own! Ready to officially get started next weekend! pic.twitter.com/AhhGptOZ5k
— Texas Bolts Premier 18u (@texasbolts) January 17, 2021
3D BP
Don’t flinch!
i was able to get some swings in before this happened… let’s just say i’ve been without a phone all week! @Johnknopf10 @EStateHuskies @Softball_MW pic.twitter.com/tc7Onnlf3q
— Emma Lawson (@emmalawson2022) January 15, 2021
*** Scroll down for our special News & Notes section—with player and team moves—along with 20 new commits!
