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IMPACT GOLD-JACKSON WINS 18U TEXAS SPARKLER FOR CAMI
Impact Gold-Jackson coach KC Jackson said the entire Impact Gold organization has dedicated this season to Cami Mendoza.
“We are additionally motivated this summer as we have dedicated our season to Cami Mendoza, an 11-year-old that plays on our Impact Gold-Mendoza 12U National Team,” Jackson said. “She had a very bad hand injury that put her young softball career at question, so please keep her in your prayers. Our players are reminded every day of how blessed we are to be able to play softball and Cami has taught us to never take being able to play softball for granted ever again. That’s why we wear her name and number on the back of our helmets!! #Cami21.”
Cami would have been proud of Impact Gold-Jackson at the Triple Crown 4th of July all week in the Houston, TX, area.
Impact Gold edged Glory Adkins Gold, 7-6, in the semifinals before knocking off Scrap Yard Internationals, 4-2, in the CO Sparkler/Fireworks Texas Region 18U championship game on Sunday at Collins Park.
“We feel very blessed to live in Texas where we are we able to play softball,” Jackson said. “The Texas Sparkler was a tournament that did not disappoint. Teams were hungry for competition so the battles were fun to watch.”
“My team has worked VERY hard and prepared well to compete at high levels and in high-profile games, so we were excited to be in those battles.”
Houston-commit Ja’Naiya Thomas went 2 for 3 with a homer and three RBIs and Impact Gold held on despite a three-run rally by Glory Adkins Gold in the top of the fifth in the semifinals.
Thomas went 2 for 3 with a stolen base and a run scored, Oklahoma-commit Turiya Coleman went 1 for 2 with a stolen base and two runs scored, Texas-commit Allie Clements went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and McNeese State-bound Kennedy Reynolds went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs to lift Impact Gold over Scrap Yard in the finals.
UT Arlington-commit Gracie Bumpurs started and allowed two runs, five hits and struck out two in 4.0 innings to record the victory and UIW-commit Maddie Blake pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the save for Impact Gold in the title game.
“This is one of the most balanced teams of speed and power in the country,” Jackson said, “and is absolutely one of the funnest teams to watch play. We have a team batting avg of .484, have hit 32 homers and stolen 81 bases in 23 games.”
Thomas, a triple-threat lead-off, sets the pace, batting .571 with a .712 OBP, 25 SBs and six HRs. She is followed up by Coleman, who bats .555 with 26 SBs. From there, Impact Gold has a very explosive group of our hitters with Washington-commit Olivia Johnson, Clements, Auburn-commiy Bri Ellis, Reynolds, Texas-commit Mya Holmes, Texas A&M-commit KoKo Wooley and rounded off by UCLA-committed speedster Lauren Hatch. Bumpurs and Blake have only allowed an average of 1.0 runs per game all season.
“Winning this tournament with a lot of great teams in it was great for our team,” Jackson said. “Great competition is the only way to prepare for the next level.”
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