Athletes Unlimited: Saturday Games (#’s 15 &U 16) Highlighted by Odicci Alexander’s Shutout Pitching & RBI Single

 The 2023 Athletes Unlimited season continues and today we look at Games 15 through 16 played on Saturday (Aug. 23, 2023)

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

Here’s a look at the doubleheader’s results…

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Athletes Unlimited Softball Post-Game Notes/Game Recap – Game 15

Game #15: Team Alexander 4, Team Davidson 0 | August 12, 2023 | Parkway Bank Sports Complex (Rosemont, Ill.)

Team Alexander Starters: Aliyah Andrews (CF), Kelsey Harshman (2B), Bubba Nickles (LF), Danielle Gibson (1B), Gwen Svekis (C), Hannah Flippen (3B), Odicci Alexander (P), Madi Huskey (RF), Josie Muffley (SS)
Team Davidson Starters: Aubrey Leach (2B), Anissa Urtez (SS), Mia Davidson (C), Megan Wiggins (CF), Nadia Taylor (DP), Erika Piancastelli (RF), Sam Fischer (3B), Andrea Filler (1B), Jazmyn Jackson (LF), Taylor McQuillin (P)

Winning Pitcher: Odicci Alexander (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Taylor McQuillin (2-1)
Save: Kathryn Sandercock (2)
Time of Game: 2:03
Game MVPs: 

• #1 – Odicci Alexander (Team Alexander), +60 points
• #2 – Kathryn Sandercock (Team Alexander), +40 points
• #3 – Gwen Svekis (Team Alexander), +20 points

ROSEMONT, Illinois – Shutouts are rare in Athletes Unlimited Softball, but pitchers Odicci Alexander and Kathryn Sandercock made it look easy in Saturday’s opening game between Team Alexander and Team Davidson at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

Alexander and Sandercock combined to hold Team Davidson to just four hits with six strikeouts as Team Alexander blanked Team Davidson by a 4-0 count.

The win allowed Team Alexander to remain undefeated with a 2-0 record, while Team Davidson saw its record split at 1-1.

Alexander, who improved to 2-0 in the circle, claimed MVP 1 recognition after scattering two hits over 5.0 innings with six strikeouts to finish with 250 leaderboard points.

Sandercock, meanwhile, authored her second save of the campaign and received MVP 2 honors after retiring all six batters she faced in the final two frames, securing 184 leaderboard points in the victory.

Catcher Gwen Svekis was the game’s MVP 3 selection with a 1-for-3 performance at the plate to accumulate 150 leaderboard points.

Designated player Nadia Taylor paced Team Davidson in the loss with a pair of hits, including a double, while middle infielders Aubrey Leach and Anissa Urtez accounted for the squad’s other two hits. Pitcher Taylor McQuillin suffered the loss after giving up one run on three hits over 5.1 innings with three strikeouts.

How It Happened: Alexander gave her squad a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning with a single to center field before Team Alexander added three insurance runs in the seventh inning.

Leaderboard Impact: Alexander remained the league leader with 1,194 leaderboard points after her 250-point performance, while outfielder Bubba Nickles moved up three spots into second place after driving in two runs and recording 130 points.

Game Notes:

• Team Alexander and Team Davidson combined to score four runs in Saturday’s opener, raising the league’s season runs total to 102 through 15 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of the ‘Aspiration Assists’ initiative.
• Team Alexander registered the third shutout in the league this season … Team Denham blanked Team Mulipola by a 4-0 count on July 30 before Team Faraimo edged Team Zerkle, 1-0, on August 6.
• Eight different players accounted for Team Alexander’s eight hits in the win on Saturday.
• Team Davidson’s leadoff hitters failed to reach base in any inning … In addition, Team Davidson was 0-for-6 in advancement opportunities.
• Team Alexander was 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 6-of-11 in two-out situations.
• Alexander and Sandercock combined to record strikes on 70.8 percent of their pitches.
• Alexander has recorded 14 strikeouts in her last three outings in the circle after her season-high six strikeouts on Saturday … She also allowed just two earned runs in her last 14.0 innings during that span.

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Athletes Unlimited Softball Post-Game Notes/Game Recap – Game 16

Game #16: Team Romero 5, Team Faraimo 3 | August 12, 2023 | Parkway Bank Sports Complex (Rosemont, Ill.)

Team Romero Starters: Morgan Zerkle (CF), Sierra Romero (2B), Amanda Lorenz (LF), Rachel Garcia (DP), Jessi Warren (3B), Taylor Edwards (C), Lilli Piper (1B), Sydney Romero (SS), Shannon Rhodes (RF), Shannon Saile (P)
Team Faraimo Starters: Victoria Hayward (LF), Kelsey Stewart-Hunter (DP), Haylie McCleney (CF), Dejah Mulipola (C), Tori Vidales (1B), Delanie Wisz (3B), Abby Ramirez (2B), Caroline Jacobsen (RF), Sis Bates (SS), Brooke Yanez (P)

Winning Pitcher: Rachel Garcia (2-2)
Losing Pitcher: Brooke Yanez (0-1)
Save: n/a
Time of Game: 2:31
Game MVPs: 

• #1 – Sydney Romero (Team Romero), +60 points
• #2 – Rachel Garcia (Team Romero), +40 points
• #3 – Morgan Zerkle (Team Romero), +20 points

ROSEMONT, Illinois – The key to winning in Athletes Unlimited Softball through the first two weeks has been scoring four or more runs, which Team Romero learned in its 5-3 victory over Team Faraimo on Saturday afternoon at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The win elevated Team Romero’s Week Three record to 1-1, while Team Faraimo fell to 0-2.

Corner infielder Sydney Romero garnered MVP 1 honors after blasting a three-run home run in the second inning to lead Team Romero to the win, ending the night with 200 leaderboard points.

Pitcher Rachel Garcia led all players with 212 leaderboard points after receiving MVP 2 recognition. Garcia, who upped her record to 2-2 in the circle, allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts over 6.0 innings in relief. She also added a 1-for-4 performance at the plate.

Outfielder Morgan Zerkle completed the MVP trio for Team Romero after going 3-for-4 with a double to earn 160 leaderboard points.

Six different players collected a hit in the loss for Team Faraimo while pitcher Brooke Yanez suffered the loss after giving up three runs on four hits in 1.2 innings with a strikeout.

How It Happened: Team Romero overcame a 2-0 deficit by scoring five runs over the second and third innings to claim a 5-2 lead it did not relinquish. Romero blasted a three-run home run to left center field in the second inning for a one-run edge before catcher Taylor Edwards and corner infielder Lilli Piper drove in runs during the third inning.

Leaderboard Impact: The win allowed middle infielder Sierra Romero to rise three spots on the leaderboard into third place, while Sydney Romero moved into sixth place after an increase of four positions. Garcia also moved back into the top 10 and holds seventh place heading into Sunday’s twinbill.

Game Notes:

• Team Romero and Team Faraimo combined to score eight runs in Saturday’s nightcap, elevating the league’s season total to 110 runs through 16 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Round the Bases’ initiative.
• The top four hitters in Team Romero’s lineup, including Zerkle, Sierra Romero, Garcia and outfielderAmanda Lorenz, accounted for seven of the team’s 12 hits … Lorenz added a 2-for-4 performance with a run scored.
• Garcia threw 122 pitches in her winning performance on Saturday, including 71 strikes.
• Team Faraimo was 9-for-18 in advancement opportunities, while Team Faraimo was 8-of-22 in advancement opportunities … The teams were a combined 3-for-27 with runners in scoring position.
• Garcia and Sydney Romero each tallied 200 or more leaderboard points for the second time this season.

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Updated Athletes Unlimited Softball Top 10 Leaderboard (through August 12, 2023)

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