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To continue our wrap-up of the Scenic City Summer Showcase, one of the most highly regarded tournaments of the travel ball summer season, we take a look at the 18U and Invitational Divisions.
Click HERE to read our highlights of the 16U Division from earlier this week
In 18U, there would be a repeat champion, as the East Cobb Bullets – Thrash squad made the jump from 16U to 18U and for the second year in a row returned home with a trophy from Scenic City.
In the Invitational Divisions, a Georgia Impact team would avenge a slow start in pool play with a 5-0 day on Sunday in bracket play to win the division’s championship in unexpected fashion.
Here’s what you may have missed from last weekend’s action in those divisions…
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18U Division
* For the second consecutive year, EC Bullets – Thrash brought home a Scenic City trophy back to Alabama, and they looked great offensively doing it
In bracket play alone, the Bullets outscored opponents 32-8, winning their quarterfinal game over Texas Glory Adkins – Gold HTX, 13-3, and their semifinal over Blue Angels 18U, 13-2.
EC Bullets would keep the momentum rolling into the championship game with a 6-3 win over Indiana Shockwaves – Perry, which was on its fourth game of the day after finishing second in 18U Pool B play earlier in the weekend.
In the championship game, Kirsten Stroud scored in the opening frame to put the Bullets up 1-0, then Auburn-Montgomery signee Lexie Bullock homered to lead off the second, doubling the lead. Stroud stayed hot and the Bullets scored on a third consecutive inning on an RBI single, then scored on an error on a ball hit from fellow AUM signee Lexi Love.
Devyn Debardeleben smacked an RBI double in the fourth and Chloe Baynes scored on Indiana Shockwave’s fifth error of the afternoon to put EC Bullets up 6-0.
But the Shockwaves did not go away.
Ainsley Phillips smacked a leadoff, line drive homer to left to make it 6-1, then Olivia Latimer doubled. Megan Nichols walked, and Macee Roberts hit a two-out single to load the bases.
A two-run single from Savannah Baker cut the six-run lead in half and brought the tying run to the on-deck circle.
Indiana signee Brianna Copeland – who had been great until that sixth inning – needed one out give EC Bullets the trophy. On four pitches, the right-hander struck out Hayley Greene for her ninth of the game to push Chris Thrash’s group to a tournament championship.
Elsewhere around the 18U Division, Texas Glory, Blue Angels and Carolina Thunder all won games in the knockout rounds of the tournament. Chattanooga Force ’02 was the only other 6-0 team through pool play, aside from EC Bullets – Thrash.
All 18U Pool Winners:
- Pool A: EC Bullets – Thrash
- Pool B: Illinois Force – Pierce
- Pool C: So. Force Premier 18 – Palmer
- Pool D: Tennessee Impact – Gainer
- Pool E: Tennessee Mojo ’04 – Arnold
- Pool F: TN Fury 21/22 – McElroy
- Pool G: Blue Angels 18U
- Pool H: Chattanooga Force ‘02
- Pool I: Carolina Thunder
- Pool J: West Tampa Elite
*** Scroll down to see how the Invitational Division went…