RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Get on board with Extra Inning Softball’s regular feature, The Last Inning.
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at [email protected]. You can also send items/story ideas to Carlos Arias via email at [email protected] or via Twitter @Los_Stuff.
Here’s our TLI for Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 …
****
Hotshots Premier-Dumezich got all the way to the “IF” game at USA Softball GOLD Nationals 18U championships a couple of weeks ago in OKC, so the Hotshots were eager to add a major national title to their resume to close out the 2020 summer season.
The Hotshots, #33 in the Extra Elite Eighty 18U Club Rankings, did so in impressive fashion, beating #18 Impact Gold-Jackson twice, 9-2 and 10-7, in the semifinals before taking down #16 Texas Bombers Gold-Smith, 5-3, in the finals to win the 18U Lonestar Bracket at the first Texas Fastpitch League Championships on Friday at Russell Creek Park in Plano, TX.
“Coming into this tournament we were hungry for a title after falling short in an ‘if’ game at USA GOLD Nationals,” Louisiana Lafayette-committed 2021 OF Sam Graeter said. “We were ready to compete and win. Everyone from the start to the finish of this tournament helped contribute to winning the title. After losing a tough one on Thursday, we knew we had to fight our way back to win it all and that’s exactly what we did. All of us pushing each other to compete at the highest level truly was one of the biggest reasons we were able to win.”
After battling to a scoreless deadlock through 4.5 innings, the Hotshots exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Hotshots loaded the bases with two outs, then an error by the second baseman on a pop fly allowed two runs to score. 2023 OF/UT Kasidi Pickering followed with an RBI single and Graeter, who went 2 for 3, added a two-run double to make it 5-0.
Pecan Villa hit a two-run home run to left field in the top of the sixth for the Bombers, who added an unearned run in the top of the seventh to close the gap to 5-3.
Baylor-committed 2021 right-hander Kaci West went the distance, allowing three hits, two earned runs and striking out five to record the victory for the Hotshots. Louisiana Lafayette-committed 2021 right-hander Samantha Landry picked up both wins in the circle against Impact Gold.
“The chemistry this team has played a vital role,” West said. “We’re always going to compete to the best of our abilities and no matter what we all have each other’s back and pick each other up. Each person contributed and played their role to help us win.”
The Hotshots went 9-1 for the four-day tournament, belting 21 home runs. Louisiana Lafayette-committed 2021 3B/1B Elia Hebel led the team with seven homers and Louisiana Lafayette-committed 2021 MIF Alexa Langeliers hit five bombs. Langeliers led the team with a .600 batting average. Louisiana Lafayette-committed 2021 OF Kayla Falterman hit .480 and McNeese State-committed 2021 MIF Reese Reyna hit .474.
“It was definitely difficult,” Langeliers said. “Two of our girls were sick on Thursday with the flu (They got tested for coronavirus and were negative), so we really had to pick up the slack. We really had to play as a team and just lay it all out on the field. I’ve never seen us play so well with missing people. It just really was a team effort and, yeah, it was pretty amazing to be a part of.”
After being named the TCS 4th Of July Fireworks Champions, TCS Southwest National Champions, A third place finish at TCS State Championship, and A 9th place finish at USA Nationals, we conclude our season with a 3rd place finish at the first annual TFL Championship!!!! pic.twitter.com/As7X3jPx54
— Impact Gold Jackson 18U🥎 (@IG_Jackson18u) August 7, 2020
*** Scroll down to read more…