USA Softball: Not Even Rain Delay Can Slow Down Team USA in 6-0 Win Over Columbia at the Pan American U-17 Fastpitch Championship

Despite a rain delay postponing the 7 p.m. game by almost three hours, the USA Softball U-17 Women’s National Team (WNT) defeated host country Colombia at the Pan American U-17 Fastpitch Championship as two pitchers, Dani Drogemuller (Frankfort, Ill.) and Madison Harris (Forest, Va.), combined to throw a shutout at Edgardo Schemel Stadium.

“This was a long day and I’m glad we were able to focus and take care of business,” said Head Coach Kyla Holas (Pasadena, Texas). “We have a quick turnaround for tomorrow but it’s good to have this one behind us. I really like the pace Dani (Drogemuller) was able to set, which kept us moving through the innings.”

Both teams were held scoreless through the first inning, each collecting a hit but ultimately turning a double play to close out the opening frame. Drogemuller and the U.S. defense retired the Colombian side in order on a pair of groundouts and strikeout before striking first in the bottom half of the second inning.

Kaci West (Liberty, Texas) hit a one-out single down the right side, stole second and while a fly out kept her from advancing, Jocelyn Erickson (Phoenix, Ariz.) dropped a fly ball into left field to plate West and make it 1-0 in favor of the Red, White and Blue.

Avery Hodge (Fulshear, Texas) fielded a ground ball for the first out of the third inning and back-to-back strikeouts from Drogemuller brought the U.S. offense back to the plate. Looking to extend the lead, Claire Ginder (Lithia, Fla.), Hodge, and Riley Blampied (Cordele, Ga.) quickly loaded the bases and while a passed ball allowed Ginder to score one out later, runners were left stranded after Colombia turned a double play to end the third frame.

Colombia threatened to cut into the U.S. lead in the top of the fourth inning after loading the bases on a single and pair of walks with two outs, but Drogemuller issued her fifth strikeout of the game to get out of the jam. Tieley Vaughn (Tampa, Fla.) singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth and after stealing second and third, scored a third run after Rachael Jones (Bennington, Vt.) grounded out.

Harris entered in relief to start the top of the fifth inning and issued a pair of strikeouts before a groundout retired the side for the third time. The Red, White and Blue tacked on two runs in the bottom half of the inning as Jessie Blaine (Wentzville, Mo.) grounded out to plate Hodge before West singled in Blampied for a 5-0 lead.

Colombia managed a one-out single in the sixth but a fly out and strikeout kept them off the board. Ginder reached after a single to left field but was out advancing to second after Hodge grounded into a fielder’s choice. With two outs and adding to the lead, Blampied singled on a groundball to left field to bring home Hodge.

Three outs away, Colombia placed a runner on first with one out after a hit-by-pitch but a groundout and strikeout secured the sixth victory for the U.S. U-17 WNT squad. Drogemuller allowed just two hits and struck out five batters in her four innings of work while Harris tossed three innings and allowed just one hit and fanned five. Offensively, West was 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in a run like four other members of the U-17 WNT squad.

The U.S returns to action Friday at 2 p.m. CT to face Puerto Rico for the final game of the Super Round before Saturday’s finale.

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Road to the Championship

A total of 33 games will be played across nine days as participating countries battle it out to qualify for the 2020 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup.

The 10 participating countries were drawn into two groups.

Competing in Pool A, the U.S. is slated for additional matchups against No. 5 Mexico on October 13 at 4:30 p.m. CT and No. 25 Argentina on October 15 at 11:30 a.m. CT after improving to 2-0 in pool play.

Following the conclusion of pool play, the top three finishers will advance to the Super Rounds for a six-team, round-robin schedule.

The top two teams from the Super Rounds will compete for the Pan American Championship Final on October 19 at 6 p.m. CT while the third and fourth-place teams will compete for the Bronze Medal.

2019 U-17 Women’s Pan American Championship Results (USA)

October 11-19, 2019 | Barranquilla, Colombia