Athletes Unlimited: Bubba Nickles Game-Winning Single in the Bottom of the 7th Highlights Games 19, 20, 21 &22

The Athletes Unlimited 2023 softball season rolled on Thursday and Friday with four more games held at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill.

Here’s a look at the results from the action heading into Sunday’s pair of contests (Game 23 & 24).

Thanks to AU’s Jade Hewitt, who shoots the great photos for Athletes Unlimited; those used in this article were by all by her.

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First, here’s the latest leaderboard after the quartet of games this week heading into Sunday (two games scheduled for today).

Updated Athletes Unlimited Softball Top 10 Leaderboard (through August 19, 2023)

RANK	CHANGE	PLAYER	TOTAL PTS	WIN PTS	STAT PTS	MVP PTS
1	0	Odicci Alexander	1,624	1,120	304	200
2	0	Bubba Nickles	1,348	920	248	180
3	0	Danielle Gibson	1,306	880	306	120
4	4	Hannah Flippen	1,266	1,030	176	60
5	-1	Alyssa Denham	1,240	890	250	100
6	0	Mia Davidson	1,228	850	298	80
7	6	Sierra Romero	1,192	790	242	160
8	-1	Aliyah Andrews	1,184	950	174	60
9	-4	Anissa Urtez	1,172	820	272	80
10	0	Megan Faraimo	1,088	600	328	160

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Athletes Unlimited Softball Post-Game Notes/Game Recap

Game #19: Team Nickles 3, Team Urtez 2 | August 18, 2023 | Parkway Bank Sports Complex (Rosemont, Ill.)

Team Urtez Starters: Amanda Lorenz (LF), Megan Wiggins (CF), Anissa Urtez (SS), Rachel Garcia (DP), Taylor Edwards (C), Sydney Romero (3B), Tori Vidales (1B), Josie Muffley (2B), Jazmyn Jackson (RF), Taylor McQuillin (P)

Team Nickles Starters: Morgan Zerkle (LF), Kelsey Harshman (2B), Bubba Nickles (CF), Erika Piancastelli (RF), Jessi Warren (3B), Aubrey Leach (DP), Lilli Piper (1B), Jordan Roberts (C), Rachel Becker (SS), Georgina Corrick (P)

Winning Pitcher: Kathryn Sandercock (2-1)
Losing Pitcher: Rachel Garcia (2-3)
Save: n/a
Time of Game: 2:09
Game MVPs: 
#1 – Bubba Nickles (Team Nickles), +60 points
#2 – Kelsey Harshman (Team Nickles), +40 points
#3 – Rachel Becker (Team Nickles), +20 points

ROSEMONT, Illinois – With the game on the line, it’s always important to have a team captain ready to lead her squad to victory and that is exactly what outfielder Bubba Nickles did in Friday’s Athletes Unlimited Softball game against Team Urtez.

Nickles, making her debut as a team captain, drove in the game-winning run with a single in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel Team Nickles to a 3-2 victory at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The walk-off hit allowed Nickles to finish with 150 leaderboard points after securing MVP 1 recognition.

Middle infielder Kelsey Harshman followed with MVP 2 honors after belting the game-tying home run in the fifth inning, a two-run shot to left field. Harshman, who also drew a walk, paced all players with 168 leaderboard points in the victory.

Rookie infielder Rachel Becker capped the MVP trio for Team Nickles after making a diving stop to lead off the top of the seventh inning, giving her 100 leaderboard points.

Rookie pitcher Kathryn Sandercock upped her record to 2-1 after scattering two hits over the final 2.1 innings.

Rookie infielder Josie Muffley recorded the lone multi-hit effort in the loss for Team Urtez after going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, marking her second multi-hit outing of the campaign.

Pitcher Rachel Garcia took the loss after giving up one run on one hit in 2.0 innings with two strikeouts.

How It Happened: With a runner on first base and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Team Nickles drew back-to-back walks by outfielder Morgan Zerkle and Harshman to load the bases. Nickels drove the next pitch up the middle to bring home catcher Jordan Roberts for the game-winning run.

Leaderboard Impact: Sandercock moved up five spots on the leaderboard into fifth place as a result of her 108 leaderboard points. Nickles, meanwhile, remains in second place and stands just 98 points behind pitcher Odicci Alexander pending the outcome of the nightcap between Team Alexander and Team Davidson.

Game Notes:

• Team Urtez and Team Nickles combined to score five runs in Friday’s Week Four opener, moving the league’s season total to 124 runs through 19 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Round the Bases’ initiative.
• Ten of the 19 games this season have been decided by two runs or less following the 2-1 verdict in Friday’s opener.
• Five of Team Urtez’s six hits came in two-out situations.
• Sandercock has not allowed a run in her last four outings and has conceded just five hits in that time while posting a 2-0 record with two saves.
• Nickles, who upped her hitting streak to a league-best eight games, fashioned her second game-winning hit of the season … She also drove in two runs with a double in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Team Romero a 2-1 victory over Team Zerkle on August 4.
• Middle infielderAnissa Urtezextended her hitting streak to six games with a RBI single in the top of the third inning.
• Corner infielderTori Vidalesmoved into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time Championship Season home run list with her 13th career homer in the fourth inning … It also marked the 15th career blast of her Athletes Unlimited career between AUX and Championship Season, which is good for fifth place.
• Harshman belted her fifth career Championship Season home run in the fifth inning to even the score at 2-2 in the fifth inning.
• Zerkleearned her 49th career Athletes Unlimited victory (AUXand Championship Season) with Team Nickles’ win on Friday .. She is now 49-28 in her Athletes Unlimited softball career.

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Athletes Unlimited Softball Post-Game Notes/Game Recap

Game #20: Team Alexander 5, Team Davidson 0 | August 18, 2023 | Parkway Bank Sports Complex (Rosemont, Ill.)

Team Alexander Starters: Aliyah Andrews (CF), Kelsey Stewart-Hunter (1B), Dejah Mulipola (DP), Danielle Gibson (LF), Gwen Svekis (C), Hannah Flippen (SS), Delanie Wisz (3B), Caroline Jacobsen (RF), Abby Ramirez (2B), Alyssa Denham (P)

Team Davidson Starters: Victoria Hayward (LF), Haylie McCleney (CF), Sierra Romero (2B), Mia Davidson (C), Nadia Taylor (DP), Sam Fischer (3B), Andrea Filler (1B), Madi Huskey (RF), Sis Bates (SS), Megan Faraimo (P)

Winning Pitcher: Alyssa Denham (4-1)
Losing Pitcher: Megan Faraimo (3-2)
Save: n/a
Time of Game: 1:58
Game MVPs: 
#1 – Alyssa Denham (Team Alexander), +60 points
#2 – Dejah Mulipola (Team Alexander), +40 points
#3 – Delanie Wisz (Team Alexander), +20 points

ROSEMONT, Illinois – Winning games in a Gold jersey has been tough through the first three weeks of the Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season. But, with captain Odicci Alexander leading the Gold squad this week, the winning magic has returned.

Alexander and Alyssa Denham combined to throw a four-hit shutout as Team Alexander blanked Team Davidson, 5-0, to complete Friday night’s doubleheader to begin Week Four at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

Denham, who upped her record to 4-1 in the circle, allowed just two hits over 5.0 innings to secure MVP 1 honors and a game-high 240 leaderboard points. Alexander, the league’s points leader, secured 144 leaderboard points after scattering two hits over the final two frames with four strikeouts.

Catcher Dejah Mulipola was named the MVP 2 recipient after going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in. The reigning league champion also scored twice to end the evening with 210 leaderboard points.

Corner infielder Delanie Wisz completed the MVP trifecta for Team Alexander after adding two hits, including a solo home run in the fourth inning, to notch 200 leaderboard points.

Corner infielder Andrea Filler registered two of Team Davidson’s four hits in the loss, while outfielder Victoria Hayward and corner infielder Sam Fischer each collected a hit.

Pitcher Megan Faraimo dropped to 3-2 this season after allowing three runs on six hits over 3.2 innings with three strikeouts.

How It Happened: Team Alexander scored its five runs over a three-inning span, including a pair of runs in the third and fifth innings, to secure the victory. Mulipola got the scoring started with a two-run home run to center field in the third frame before Wisz added a solo home run in the fourth inning. The squad added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth for the five-run margin.

Leaderboard Impact: Denham rose nine spots on the leaderboard after her 240-point performance in Friday’s victory and now stands fourth in the league standings with 1,140 points. Corner infielder Danielle Gibson, meanwhile, continued her climb up the leaderboard and holds third place after Friday’s results.

Game Notes:

• Team Alexander and Team Davidson combined to score five runs to finish Friday night’s doubleheader, moving the league’s season total to 129 runs through 20 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Round the Bases’ initiative.
• Mulipola blasted the 20th home run of her Athletes Unlimited career, including her 13th career Championship Season blast … She is the first player in Athletes Unlimited Softball history to reach 20 career home runs between AUXand Championship Season play.
• Wisz fashioned her third multi-hit game of the season after her 2-for-3 performance.
• OutfielderAliyah Andrewsextended her hitting streak to six games with a single to right field in the third inning.
• Hayward has hit safely in seven consecutive games after driving a single to center field to lead off the top of the sixth inning.
• CatcherMia Davidsonwas hit by a pitch for the sixth time this season, establishing a new Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season single-season record … It also marked the 10th time she has been hit by a pitch in her Championship Season career, breaking a tie with catcher Sahvanna Jaquish for the most in Championship Season history.
• Davidson also owns the combined Athletes Unlimited Softball (AUXand Championship Season) career standard by being hit by a pitch 17 times.
• Gibson now owns a four-game hitting streak after reaching on an infield single in the top of the seventh inning.

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 Athletes Unlimited Softball Post-Game Notes/Game Recap

Game #21: Team Alexander 8, Team Nickles 4 | August 19, 2023 | Parkway Bank Sports Complex (Rosemont, Ill.)

Team Davidson Starters: Victoria Hayward (LF), Andrea Filler (RF), Sierra Romero (2B), Mia Davidson (C), Haylie McCleney (CF), Nadia Taylor (1B), Sam Fischer (3B), Frankie Hammoude (DP), Sis Bates (SS), Haylie Wagner (P)

Team Nickles Starters: Morgan Zerkle (LF), Kelsey Harshman (2B), Bubba Nickles (CF), Erika Piancastelli (RF), Jessi Warren (3B), Aubrey Leach (DP), Lilli Piper (1B), Jordan Roberts (C), Rachel Becker (SS), Kathryn Sandercock (P)

Winning Pitcher: Mariah Mazon (5-0)

Losing Pitcher: Kathryn Sandercock (2-2)

Save: n/a

Time of Game: 2:20

Game MVPs:
#1 – Sierra Romero (Team Davidson, +60)
#2 – Mariah Mazon (Team Davidson, +40)
#3 – Nadia Taylor (Team Davidson, +20)

ROSEMONT, Illinois  — Pitcher Mariah Mazon has been nearly unstoppable as a reliever during the 2023 Athletes Unlimited Softball season and her talents were on full display in Saturday’s clash between Team Davidson and Team Nickles.

The second-year professional shut the door on Team Nickles with 4.1 innings of no-hit relief as Team Davidson secured an 8-4 victory in the first game of the Week Four doubleheader at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The win allowed Team Davidson to even its record at 1-1 for the penultimate week of the season, while Team Nickles owns a similar 1-1 mark.

Mazon, who earned her fifth win of the season in the circle, struck out three hitters and allowed just one walk after entering the game in place of Haylie Wagner in the third inning. The former Oregon State standout earned MVP 2 honors for her efforts and collected 192 leaderboard points.

Middle infielder Sierra Romero took home MVP 1 distinction and 228 leaderboard points after going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run while driving in two runs and scoring twice.

Corner infielder Nadia Taylor finished the MVP triumvirate for Team Davidson after blasting her second home run of the season in addition to adding two singles, giving her 180 leaderboard points in the victory.

Outfielder Morgan Zerkle authored a two-hit performance for Team Nickles in the loss while seven other players registered one hit. Pitcher Kathryn Sandercock dipped to 2-2 on the season after giving up five runs, including two earned runs, on five hits in 3.2 innings.

How It Happened: With the score tied at 4-all, Team Davidson plated four runs over the final four innings to secure the victory. Corner infielder Sam Fischer got the rally started by scoring on a single by outfielder Victoria Hayward in the fourth inning before Romero’s solo blast to lead off the fifth stanza upped the margin to 6-4. Captain Mia Davidson added a pair of insurance runs with a two-run homer in the seventh to make it an 8-4 game.

Leaderboard Impact: Mazon’s winning effort in the circle lifted her into 12th place on the leaderboard, while Taylor also rose 13 spots to 13th place in the league standings. Despite the loss, Nickles remains in second place with 1,348 leaderboard points.

Game Notes:

• Team Davidson and Team Nickles combined to score 12 runs in Saturday’s opener, moving the league’s season total to 141 runs through 21 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Round the Bases’ initiative.
• Team Nickles became the second team this season to lose a game despite scoring four or more runs … Team Garcia suffered a 13-4 loss against Team Zerkle on August 5.
• Seven of Team Davidson’s 10 hits came with runners on base … In addition, the squad went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position and 13-of-20 in advancement opportunities.
• The teams combined to leave 17 runners on base.
• Hayward authored the 99th hit of her Athletes Unlimited career (AUXand Championship Season) with her single in the fourth inning … She has now hit safely in 43-of-56 career Championship Season contests.
• Team Davidson became the fourth team to score four or more runs in a single inning after opening the game with four runs on two hits.
• Mazon, who has allowed just four earned runs over her seven appearances, has shut out opponents in five of those outings … She has also thrown 4.0 or more innings in three of her last five games.
• Romero authored 200 or more leaderboard points in a game for the second time in her Championship Season career.

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Athletes Unlimited Softball Post-Game Notes/Game Recap

Game #22: Team Alexander 11, Team Urtez 3 | August 19, 2023 | Parkway Bank Sports Complex (Rosemont, Ill.)

Team Urtez Starters: Amanda Lorenz (LF), Megan Wiggins (CF), Anissa Urtez (SS), Taylor Edwards (C), Tori Vidales (1B), Sydney Romero (3B), Caleigh Clifton (DP), Jazmyn Jackson (RF), Josie Muffley (2B), Peyton St. George (P)

Team Alexander Starters: Aliyah Andrews (CF), Kelsey Stewart-Hunter (1B), Dejah Mulipola (DP), Danielle Gibson (LF), Gwen Svekis (C), Hannah Flippen (SS), Delanie Wisz (3B), Caroline Jacobsen (RF), Abby Ramirez (2B), Odicci Alexander (P)

Winning Pitcher: Aleshia Ocasio (2-3)
Losing Pitcher: Peyton St. George (0-2)
Save: n/a
Time of Game: 2:23
Game MVPs: 
#1 – Hannah Flippen (Team Alexander), +60 points
#2 – Delanie Wisz (Team Alexander), +40 points
#3 – Danielle Gibson (Team Alexander), +20 points

ROSEMONT, Illinois – All it takes is one spark to get a fire started and for Team Alexander on Saturday afternoon, the spark came from middle infielder Hannah Flippen.

Flippen registered two hits, including a three-run home run, and scored two runs to lead Team Alexander to an 11-3 victory over Team Urtez to finish Saturday’s Athletes Unlimited Softball doubleheader at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The win allowed Team Alexander to remain unbeaten at 2-0 in Week Four, while Team Urtez dropped to 0-2.

Led by Flippen, Team Alexander erupted for 11 runs in the first four innings to seal the victory. Flippen claimed MVP 1 honors for her efforts and ended the afternoon with a game-high 218 leaderboard points.

Corner infielder Delanie Wisz followed with MVP 2 recognition after reaching base three times, including a single and a three-run home run, to secure 190 leaderboard points.

Corner infielder Danielle Gibson completed the MVP sweep for Team Alexander with a 1-for-3 performance, including a two-run double and a walk, to collect 148 leaderboard points.

Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio (2-3) earned the victory in the circle after allowing one run on three hits over 3.1 innings after taking over for captain Odicci Alexander. Alexander threw the first 3.2 innings and gave up two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

Outfielder Amanda Lorenz paced Team Urtez in the loss with two hits along with a walk, while five other players registered a hit. Peyton St. George suffered the loss after conceding four unearned runs on two hits in 1.1 innings with a strikeout.

How It Happened: After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, Team Alexander erupted for seven runs in its first three trips to the plate for a 7-1 lead it did not relinquish. The squad plated four runs in the first frame, including a three-run home run by Flippen, before striking for two runs in the second inning and another run in the third frame.

Leaderboard Impact: Alexander carries a 276-point lead over outfielder Bubba Nickles into the Week Four finale on Sunday between Team Alexander and Team Nickles. Flippen, meanwhile, moved into the No. 4 position on the leaderboard after rising four spots with her performance in Saturday’s victory.

Game Notes:

• Team Urtez and Team Alexander combined to score 14 runs in Saturday’s second game, moving the league’s season total to 155 runs through 22 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Round the Bases’ initiative.
• Team Alexander was 11-of-16 in advancement opportunities.
• Flippen recorded 200 or more leaderboard points in a game for the fourth time in her Championship Season career … Flippen also registered her fifth multi-hit effort of the season.
• Lorenz authored the 13th multi-hit game of her Championship Season career, including her fifth multi-hit game of the season … She has now hit safely in 8-of-11 games this season.
• Alexander now owns a 10-1 game record this season, which leads the league … She has won 10 consecutive games after losing in the season opener on July 28.