If a big moment was designed for someone, it was for Tampa Mustangs – TJ middle infielder Kathy Garcia.
Garcia missed over two weeks of game action due to a fractured thumb she suffered and hadn’t seen a single at-bat against live pitching at PGF Nationals since the Mustangs arrived in Southern California.
But, down 5-0 to Birmingham Thunderbolts 18U Premier in the late innings, head coach TJ Goelz gave Garcia her first in a big spot.
The South Florida commit struck out from the left side in the fifth, then turned around to the right side of the plate in the sixth and came up with a two-run single to start the rally that saw Tampa Mustangs – TJ score five in the sixth inning on the way to tying the game at 5-5 in one of the best comebacks of this tournament.
Garcia came in off the bench as the part of a massive group of substitutions in the fifth inning, which helped turn the tide.
Tampa Mustangs – TJ is in search of their first national championship since 2015 and sits pretty to at least get back in the championship game, needing one win on Friday at 12:30 after winning the Bracket B Winner’s Bracket in the 18U Premier Tournament.
Here’s what Garcia had to say about her personal comeback and the comeback that the Mustangs put on to advance at PGF.
— Will Turner, Extra Inning Softball
