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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 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 …
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CAROLINA CARDINALS OPEN SUMMER CAMPAIGN WITH A BANG
Due to the COVID-19 situation, stay-at-home orders and cancellation of the high school season, many club teams around the country saw their first action this past weekend. Carolina Cardinals 18U-Chandler opened its summer campaign in grand style by winning the 16U/18U Division of the ProSwings Power50 Invitational in Cookeville, TN.
The Cardinals went 3-0-1 to win their Pool, hitting five home runs and outscoring their opponents 24-5. They beat PA Strikers National, 6-2, in their final pool play game.
The Cardinals picked up a 3-2 ITB win over Lady Louisville Sluggers-Huecker in the first round of bracket play. They used a soft slap and three consecutive bunts to tie it, 2-2, in the bottom of the fifth.
They used their small ball approach in the bottom of the eighth and won the game on Longwood-commit Jaden Pone‘s walk-off squeeze. Clemson-commit Regan Spencer threw six innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.
In the second bracket game, Carolina knocked off Tennessee Mojo 2021, 5-4. The Mojo took a quick 3-0 lead in the first, but the Cardinals responded with four runs in the fourth powered by a bases-clearing triple by North Carolina A&T-commit Kayla Taylor. The Mojo tied it, 4-4, with a solo homer in the fifth. The Cardinals responded with their small ball approach, then a dropped flyball allowed the winning run to score. Spencer closed the door in relief for the win.
Beverly Bandits-Helbling, which had an injured pitcher, forfeited the championship game to the Cardinals.
The Cardinals had a number of standouts for the weekend. Marshall-commit Alex Coleman hit .571 (8 for 14) with five RBIs, North Carolina-commit Carlie Myrtle hit .500 (6 for 12) with three homers and seven RBIs, North Carolina-commit Shelby Sykora hit .375 (6 for 16) with a homer and three RBIs and Auburn-commit Sydney Cox hit .250 with a couple clutch hits and she played awesome defense at shortstop. Spencer went 2-0 with two saves, a 1.33 ERA and had 21 strikeouts in 21 innings.
COLORADO ANGELS END UP AS TOP GUN CHAMPS
There was a lot of uncertainty for Colorado Angels 14U-Gaffin heading into the summer campaign. Because of the Coronavirus situation, Colorado Angels coach Dawn Gaffin had originally pulled her team out of the Top Gun Invitational.
“I called (Top Gun founder) Robb Behymer about 10 days ago to try and get back into the Top Gun invitational,” Gaffin said. “Tournaments in Colorado at this time, were not being held. I had spoken to Robb mid-May, pulling out of the tournament because of the fluid decisions being made by our government leaders. Rob was kind enough to allow us back into the tournament.”
It was a good thing Gaffin lobbied to get her team back in the tournament because they ended up winning the 14U Maverick Division of the prestigious Top Gun Invitational in Kansas City.
“Getting back on the dirt put huge smiles on their faces,” Gaffin said. “These kids have persevered through a pandemic like no one has experienced in this lifetime. They sat through Zoom meetings, Zoom hitting lessons, Zoom guest speakers from the NFL to Division I athletes such as Rainey James, Bailey Cotton, Michelle Woods and Kailey Edwards. These exceptional athletes gave my little girls pointers on how to stay strong, how to stay mentally tough,and what it’s like to be a Division I athlete. Getting back on the field, out in the sunshine, is exactly what this group of girls needed! We are about two months behind in terms of development, so being able to play was great.”
TRIBUTE TO KOBE AND GIGI
Our team finally got to wear our Kobe and Gigi tribute uniforms this weekend! Thank you coach James and @WilsonSportingG for designing these for us. @LadyDukesLamar @Los_Stuff @StriveSoftball #LeftyPitcher #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/o9STDyge1I
— Olivia Duncan 2023 (@OliviaLDuncan) June 15, 2020
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