ACES FASTPITCH CLUB ROLLS TO 18U TEAM 1 CHAMPIONSHIP
Ryan Taylor’s Aces Fastpitch Club, #8 in the Extra Elite Eighty 18U Club Rankings, beat Nebraska Quakes Prime twice, decisively, to capture the Team 1 Fastpitch National Championships 18U title on Sunday at North Park in Harrisonville, MO.
Taylor’s Aces picked up a 4-1 win over Aces Fastpitch Club 16U, #30 in the Extra Elite Eighty 16U Club Rankings, in the quarterfinals and then knocked off the Quakes, 7-1, in the semifinals. The Quakes beat the 16U Aces, 6-1, to earn a rematch against Taylor’s Aces in the finals.
The Aces exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth to beat the Quakes, 8-0, in four innings via the mercy rule in the title game.
Kenzie Schopfer threw a two-hit shutout with five strikeouts in four innings to record the victory.
Oklahoma State-bound Avery Hobson went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and a run scored, Washington-commit Kinsey Fiedler had three stolen bases and a run scored, Texas-commit Ashton Maloney went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, Ava Bredwell went 1 for 2 with a double and a run scored, Auburn-commit Riley McNemar went 1 for 1 with a run scored and an RBI and Louisiana Lafayette-bound Addie Lightner went 1 for 1 with two RBIs to lead the Aces’ offense in the finals.
“Pitching was great,” Taylor said. “(Arizona State-commit) Mac Morgan had nine Ks in the first game. Olivia Bruno pitched our second game and did a great job. Kenzie Schopfer controlled the championship game. She had five Ks. I’m really proud of her effort, changing planes and speeds. Our uncommitted kids led the offense. Ava Bredwell hit .600 and led the team in RBIs. Georgia Rea hit .500. The top of our lineup was great setting the pace for us. Kacie Hoffman (Arkansas commit) led the team with four HRs.”
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