Salinas Storm 1, Plantation Gold 0. The only run of this first-round game was scored in the 1^st; Lauren Schmitz singling and scoring. After that, the Storm’s Jennifer Olvera and Plantation’s Samantha Allen and Lisa Newman (T4) were evenly matched, each team working out of pressure situations. Plantation loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the 2^nd, on walks to Megan Higginbotham and Kerri Houck, followed by an error on Allen’s grounder to 3^rd. A fly ball ended the threat. Storm ace Monica Abbott relieved in the 5^th, striking out two of the four batters she faced before time was called. We were very impressed by Cory Usher’s arm at SS for the Storm, and, in the 4^th, by a perfect push bunt. We were also impressed by the power of the Storm’s Nancy Harbeson who smashed a fly ball deep to CF where the fence line was 300 feet. Plantation’s Andrea Miranda also socked a fly ball deep to CF that also might have been a dinger if these major exposure tournaments used 200 foot fences. The Storm’s Jennifer Chamberlin stroked a solid double to center but was out trying to stretch a triple.

Salinas Storm 1, Smoke 0. Two of the strongest contenders for the Gold 2003 championship met at mid-day on Saturday, a contest won by Monica Abbott, certainly one of the best-of-her-class pitchers. Monica twirled 9 Ks, striking out 5 in one string and, in the 4^th, striking out 3 in a row after Anna Beardman walked and Jodie Legaspi got one of the Smoke’s 3 hits. Shannon Crisp took the loss; Daniela Urincho relieved in the 5^th. The Storm scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the 1^st; the teams battled defensively but two Storm threats were snuffed, one on an excellent throw from Caitlin Lowe to Hollee Haines behind the plate, the other on a Haines pick at 3^rd.

The Storm won two other bracket games, defeating Glacier NW Gold and OR Sun Supply, but we are not sure the late Sunday game with Ballistic was played, because the Ballistic played a late game Sunday with the Renegades !8-U team.

Waves 4, Ladyhawks Gold 0. This was the score when we left after 3 innings – unlike Boulder and Aurora, Lancaster doesn’t bother with a leader board – a critical lack when you have 110 teams playing on 19 different fields at 6 different complexes. This game gave coaches a good opportunity to look at Kathie Burkhart, an 04 lefty (bats right). She threw 4 Ks in a row, striking out the side in the 2^nd. Christina Haake started the scoring with a double to RF, and scored on Burkhart’s single to center. In the 3^rd, Justine Barnett walked; with two out, Burkhart singled to LF, followed by Sarah Scott’s single to center. A walk to Lindsay Cox loaded the bases, and Sarah Ruben and Sonya Benavides hit rbi singles for the 4-0 lead.

The Waves were not as successful in their mid-day encounter with Cal Lite, who scored six runs off Haake before Burkhart came on in relief.

Sorcerer 6, Cal Lite 1. The 18A National Champions gave every indication of being prepared to compete at the Gold level, despite returning just 3 players. And, they’re smart. Seniors Kimberly Krisman and Leslie Macedo have SATs of 1230 and 1280. Junior Becky McCullogh pitched this game; after Makeala Compton drove in Ashley Stiner for a Lite run, McCullogh was in good control. In the bottom of the 3^rd, Krisman beat out an infield hit, advanced on a sacrifice by catcher Jayme Crank (who usually hits away as she did later). Both runners were safe when Michelle Smith’s grounder was misplayed at SS, then Julie Stauder’s fielder’s choice grounder was misplayed at 2^nd; after an out, Samantha Rodriguez singled in two more runs, and Jamie DaSilva drove in the fourth run of the inning. Krisman would score another run on Cranks’ singled in the 4^th; pinch runner Ashley Nichelman scored the final run. Krisman was impressive at the plate, on the bases and in the field; we were also impressed with how hard Rodriguez (2 hits) smacks the ball; and, we liked Crank’s work behind the plate.

Earlier, Sorcerer defeated the Waves 4-1. Cal Lite lost to the WA Ladyhawks Gold 4-1, and but rallied to defeat the Waves 6-0.

While paying attention to the game in front of us, Sorcerer Coach Phil Mumma and I had a detailed discussion about life on the Plains for the Lakota Sioux. Phil is an historian, who correctly reminded me that the Sioux only shouted ahokahey, telling enemies it was a good day for them to die, when they were engaged in battle. That is, dying in battle is an honorable way to be dispatched to the Happy Hunting Ground.

Batbusters 2, Cal Breeze 1. The Davis Batbusters were 2-2-1 in this tournament. Against Don Mashburn’s Breeze, the BBD got a good effort from Kelly Trout, who survived a bases-loaded situation to get the win. The Batbuster offense was hot and cold all weekend. They beat the WA Diamond Dusters but, in addition to tying Running 0-0, they lost to the Strikkers 1-0, despite getting 5 hits off Eileen Canney and yielding the game’s only run on an error. Canney very effectively worked herself out of trouble; Eileen had pitched for the BBD at Gold Nationals. Trout and Ashley Freeman worked this game. The Batbusters also lost to the Sundancers, 1-0,

Strikkers 0, Running Rebels Gold 0. The lack of offense owed much to the fine pitching efforts by both teams. Erin Downey and Eileen Canney (4^th), who worked this game, combine with Ricci Robben (who has had an amazing fall with no earned runs against her) to make the Strikkers a formidable 2003 opponent in Gold. Bob Regpala also has a fine mound corps and rotated them all weekend. Danika Dukes started this game; Katie Cotta, who was so impressive as a champion pitcher in the 16s, relieved in the 3^rd; and freshman Amanda Williams closed. We counted 9 Ks for the Strikker pitchers, 14 for the RR Gold. Lindsay Schutzler, who starred at SS all game, got a lead-off single for the Strikkers. Also wearing #4, Amanda Wise got a lead-off single for the RR. Amy Espinoza (a 1230 SAT) and Erica Anderson also singled for the RR. Given how well she worked in this tournament, we expect to hear about a commitment soon for the Rebels’ Dukes, who has a 4.57 GPA and 1300 SAT. Downey also pitched the 2-0 win Sunday over NM Sundancers.

Other than this tie, the Strikkers went undefeated, including the 1-0 win over the Batbusters. They allowed just two runs, both in the win over the Breeze. Their games featured strong pitching from Eileen (impressive at Gold Nationals), Erin (who was a standout at Canada Futures and 18A Nationals, and Ricci ( who pitched the shutout over the Diamond Dusters, but the Strikkers also got key hits. Senior 3^rd Marisa Scarpelli had some big shots including a homerun against the Diamond Dusters. Junior SS Angelina Mexicano had a standout weekend, making numerous plays that most shortstops couldn't

San Diego Renegades 3, Grapettes 1. Senior pitcher Sara Radabaugh had several good games, and was very effective against the Grapettes, notching 7 Ks. The Renegades loaded the bases with two out in the 1^st, but Brittnay Osmon was out at home trying to score on a passed ball. Summer Downs scored the first Renegade run, singling to LF, advancing on a single by Mandy Valadez, and scoring on Krystan Reed’s sac fly. Allison Armas opened the 3^rd with a single to center, but was forced out at 2^nd on a grounder by Osman who scored on Christina Tucker’s double. Two more walks loaded the bases again for the Renegades but the inning ended on a K. Junior Cristin Songer, who shows promise as a pitcher and plays a very good 3^rd base, drove in the Grapette run. The Grapettes have the Young triplets: sophomores Ashlee, Christyn and Megan. Lefty Megan started this game, with Ashlee behind the plate. Brittney Tachara relieved.

The Renegades lost their previous game to the CA Cruisers, but went undefeated in three games on Sunday. Radabaugh defeated the Beach Girls 3-0; Mandy Valadez defeated WA Team Speed 6-1, and Radabaugh beat the OCAs 3-1.

Glacier NW Gold 2, OR Sun Supply 1. Both would lose to Smoke, but they were evenly matched in this game. Glacier took command in the 2^nd; Catcher Brittney Warner doubled to CF; Shannon Prochaska singled to left and Cathy Ringnalda walked; with the bases loaded, Stephanie Zellner hit into a 5-2-3 double play (the Sun’s second of the game, having pulled off a 4-6-3 in the top of the 1^st); but Brittany Reeves singled to right, scoring both Glacier runs. Reeves seemed fully recovered from torn ligaments in her hand, notching 3 Ks before being relieved by Kristin Blodgette in the 5^th to start the 5^th. Sun Supply scored in the 5^th when pitcher Megan Dalthorp hit a drop-in fly to center, finally scoring with two out on Kellie Spaulding’s single. Glacier 04 Stephanie Wagner was impressive at SS, with one string of three straight assists on hard grounders. Amy Walters pitched in relief for Sun Supply, coming on in the 4^th. We also liked Glacier leadoff Meghan Crouse; this junior is small but she whacks the hide off the ball.

Sun Supply defeated Plantation Gold 4-2 on Sunday morning, after tying Ballistic 2-2 in the final game Saturday night.

San Diego Thunder 6, Blast 6. Play for exposure, or, play to win? That question arises at every exposure tournament, and coaches respond differently. The Thunder’s Mike Fox has a simple answer; having decided not to play their final game Sunday, Fox used all of his pitchers, while emptying his bench, and watched a 6-0 advantage dwindle down to a tie. Vanessa Soto, who pounded the ball hard all weekend including one HR, led off a 3-run first inning with a double to left; she scored on a hard-hit double to CF by Kristie Fox, who scored on a single by Heather Williams. Pinch runner Alysha Daigle stole second; after a failed pick, and with two out, Kellie Bryan got an infield hit but the inning ended on a fielder’s choice, 3-0. In the 2^nd, Jessica Yonally and Soto banged out consecutive hits, a single and double; Yonally was erased on a fielder’s choice hit by Danielle Kerper before Fox drove in her second rbi with a single to left. Williams and Jeannine Estepa singled in the final two Thunder runs. Katie Trott pitched the first two innings. Jessica Runge relieved to start the 3^rd and was greeted by three successive singles hit by pitcher Kim Adams, catcher Amy Gleicher, and 3^rd Emily Edmonson. The first run scored on an illegal pitch, the second on a passed ball. The Blast racked 4 runs in the 6^th: Trina Dorn walked; Griego was safe on an error; and Jamie Meranto tripled in two runs. She scored on a single by Brittany Loisel who scored on a busted play triggered by Adams’ grounder. In between Runge and Jennifer Zev, who pitched the fateful 3^rd and 6^th innings, Kyla Sullivan had an effective outing on the mound for Thunder. We also saw Griego in relief for the Blast in the 5^th.

In Thunder’s 2-2 tie with Phoenix Storm, Vanessa Soto led off the 1^st with a HR into right center field (300 ft fences), and drove in the second run with a single scoring Jeannine Estepa who had singled. The Storm loaded the bases but Katie Trott ended the threat with a strikeout. She also had to retire two batters in the 2^nd when Storm had a runner on 3^rd with one out. Storm scored two unearned runs, one in the 3^rd, one in the 5^th.

Thunder’s loss was against CA Breeze, 2-0. Thunder was also tied by Valley Ice, 1-1. That tie was preserved by C Heather Williams; after the tying run scored on a hit up the middle, Williams caught the late throw home then nailed a runner at 2^nd to end the game.

Cruisers 5, Grapettes 1. Junior Christin Songer had 8 Ks in an earlier game but the Cruisers are one of the best-hitting Gold-level teams, and demonstrated throughout the weekend until the final game, when they were tied by the OCAs. Against the Grapettes, Richelle Velascas started and Mindy Cowles relieved in the 5^th for the Cruisers.Ashley Anderson reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Megan Anderson’s hit. An earlier Grapette opportunity was lost when Cruiser C Jamie VanDijk threw out Amanda Vickers trying to steal second after a single. The Cruisers finally overcame Songer in the 5^th. and took a 2-0 lead. In the 6^th, Cowles scored on a single by Andrea Smith for a 3-0 lead. In the 7^th, Jackie Rinehart reached on an error at short; VanDijk singled; one run scored when all hands were safe on a fielder’s choice hit by Kelly Melone and Cowles drove in Melone. (PS: Denny: uniform numbers are hard to read; there is no contrast.)

Cruisers 1, OCAs 1. The final game for these teams was a well-played pitchers duel between Cruiser Angelica Selden and the A’s Tina Rowe. As we have for two years, we continue to marvel at 03 Kristin Crenshaw, who plays SS and 2^nd with great skill.

Hotshots 11, OR Panthers 0. One of the most lop-sided games of the weekend won by one of the best teams in the tournament who won all five games without surrendering a run. Were it not for a 3^rd inning double-play by the Panthers, the score might have been higher. Lorilyn Wilson and Christy Hess had good outings in other Oktoberfest games (Christy had 10 Ks in their first game, against the WA Sidewinders) but the Hotshots were in a zone. The Hotshots scored a singleton in the first, two in the 2^nd, two in the 3^rd, and six in the 4^th. In this game, ably pitched by bright young star Kim Reeder, they got rbi from Stephanie Ewing (3), Danielle Sidoti, Cynthia Duran, Tiffany Andras (2), with Lisa Jones, Brittany Mead also hitting and scoring runs. A run scored on an error and another on a failed throw-down. At this point, the Panthers were 2-1.

Reeder had 14Ks in the 7-0 Hotshots win over the WA Sidewinders. Lisa Jones put the Hotshots ahead to stay with a 3-run homer in the 1^st. Jessica Roberts took the loss. Their closest game was a 1-0 win over NM Scorpions, in which Hotshot ace Desiree Williams bested Monica Chavez with a single run in the 3^rd. The Hotshots also defeated SD Renegades 18U, and IL Windmills Blue. During the weekend, Andras had 2 triples and Jones one triple.

So Cal Athletics 5, AZ Mustangs 0. The first of the four wins by the SCA’s (the Lady Sharks were to have been the fifth opponent but went home), this game featured four innings of 2-hit ball by Heather Slettvet, and three innings of 1-hit ball by Marissa Nichols. Jiliane Hartfield had a 2-run triple; Chelsea Osborne had 3 hits; and Katie Vickers had two hits including a double. The 3-1 win over Bike was fashioned on rbi hits by Jamee Juarez, Katie Vickers (double) and Ashley Boyd. Juarez was the winner.

SCA Christina Ross has now pitched 45 innings of fall ball without surrendering a run. Against the very good Fresno Force, who placed 4^th at the 2002 Gold Nationals, Ross gave up 1 hit in 5 innings. The A’s, who are 18-2 this fall, got a team effort: 7 hits by 7 players to defeat the Force 3-0. Ahead 1-0, Katie Vickers drove in Whitney Radcliff for one run and Jiliane Hartfiel scored on an error on Shelby Hensler’s grounder.

The SCA’s used four pitchers – Slettvet, Nichols, Ross, and Juarez – to edge a good Valley Breeze team 1-0. The 3-hit shutout was won in the 7^th; Jamee Juarez, who had two hits this game, scored on a two-out rbi by Tonye McCorkle.

Cruisers 7, Beach Girls 2. Angelica Selden pitched for the Cruisers; Britney Thompson for the Beach Girls. A 4-run outburst effectively settled this game in the 3^rd. Tricia Aggabao singled; Mindy Cowles was safe on an error; Stephanie Savre moved the runners with an rbi sac fly; Andrea Smith drove in a run when her grounder was misplayed at short; Selden walked; the bases were loaded when Katrina Shelton reached on an error; and Jamie VanDijk drove in two runs with a single. Richelle Villescas relieved when the BGs threatened. Jessica Mouse scored one BG run on an rbi double by Thompson, and Lauren Fogler had an rbi single. But, Villescas ended the rally.

The Beach Girls also lost to the Grapettes 5-2, but they got a 3-0 win behind newcomer Liz Hall, a junior who throws heat in the mid-60s. A closer in HS because of her fast ball, Liz also pitched parts of games for the BGs but she showed at Oktoberfest she can go the distance as a starter. The Beach Girls defeated Team Speed 6-2.

Smoke 5, Ballistic 2. Among the rarer sights in softball: a Smoke pitcher with a bat in her hand. But, in this their last game of the weekend, the Smoke were down to nine players so long, lean and lanky Lauren Nydam strode to the plate – and got a hit! Nydam also came on in relief of Maggie Davidson. Ballistic, behind Danielle Ellement, had taken a 1-0 lead and held it for two innings until Smoke turned loose its speedsters. Nicole Mercado, perhaps the most under-rated of the Smoke players, went 2-2 and a sacrifice, and started this rally with a single to center. Nicole scored on a triple by Caitlin Lowe (who else runs that fast) who also turned in some very athletic plays at 1^st base. Liz Caputo walked and Lowe scored on an error at shortstop. Daniela Urincho singled in the third run. Ballistic rallied for a run when Kelly Zakosek singled and scored on a 4-3 fielder’s choice but Nydam relieved and retired the next two batters. Anna Beardman scored the last two Smoke runs. Leading off the 4^th with a single, and advancing on Mercado’s sacrifice, Beardman scored on Lowe’s single. Leading the 6^th, Anna singled, advanced on Mercado’s second hit, and, when the Ballistic tried to pick her at second, only to overthrow the bag, the speedster came home, beating the throw from CF by a wide margin. Meghan Spehar pitched the last two innings for Ballistic.

On Saturday, Smoke beat Plantation Gold 4-0, and OR Sun Supply (before and after the loss to Salinas Storm). At mid-day Sunday, Smoke defeated NW Glacier Gold 7-1.

Ballistic 2, San Diego Renegades 18-U 0. SPY left for the airport at 7pm, and apparently missed a rare non-hitter (in this tournament). In fact, this game was not on our schedule. Danielle Ellement pitched the no-hitter, facing 18 batters and striking out 10, a walk away from a perfect game. Danielle, who had a no-hitter the previous week when the Ballistic went 6-0 to win the Southwest Showdown with four shutouts, (including a win over Amie Stewart’s Rebels), paid her dues in this game: she was hit by a drive off her pitching arm and another shot hit her below the knee. Earlier, Ballistic tied Plantation Gold 0-0 and also tied Sun Supply 2-2. Two Ballistic hitters continue to win respect: outfielder Krystle Chamberlain and 1^st base DeAnn Young.

Minor’s Gold 4, So Cal Instinct 0. That was the score when we left at 7pm to drive to LAX; given the way Jessica Smith was pitching, that lead probably held. Ashley Ellis started the Minor’s batting with a triple, followed by rbi singles from Courtney Martinez and Samantha Parks for a 2-0 lead in the 1^st. Kali Longoria continued the attack in the second, leading off with a single to left, then stealing 2^nd. An error at 3^rd on a grounder by Samantha Kirby produced a run, and Kirby scored on a fielder’s choice play hit by Terra Clark. Stephanie Hotchkin pitched for Instinct.

In other games, Irving Sting defeated Phoenix Storm 6-2.

Few hard and fast conclusions can be drawn at what might be called the mid-point of fall ball, but, some teams are obviously well-prepared for the 2003 campaign: Southern California Athletics; Smoke (aka Gordon’s Panthers); AZ Hotshots; Salinas Storm; L’il Saints; CA Cruisers. San Diego Thunder, San Diego Renegades, Strikkers, Sorcerer, and Fresno Force are capable any-given-game teams who will be contenders down the stretch. From down in Tustin, we know without seeing reports that the Haning Batbusters, Lionettes, and Firecrackers will be in contention. More, there were some teams at Lancaster whom we know will be stronger in the spring, like NW Glacier Gold, Phoenix Storm, Cal Lite, Ladyhawks, Grapettes, etc.

We are obviously not going to see 55 games, which we would need to monitor 110 teams. Using 19 fields at 6 sites not only strains media coverage, but, scouting by college coaches is similarly constrained. SPY admits to being navigationally challenged, and we missed several games because we could not find the fields, but others also had trouble finding fields, and returning from them; those little 3x3 maps were barely legible, but the real problem is the size of these tournaments.

SPY considered which teams we had already seen at Phoenix, the teams we know will be seen at Tucson and Plantation in two weeks, and the teams likely to participate in the upcoming Batbuster and Firecracker tournaments, always with an eye on teams we do not see regularly, balanced by the need to see the competitive Gold and 18A teams which we know will be the subject of emails from college coaches. There is no scientific formula.

The primary site at Lancaster has eight fields, one of the better West Coast facilities, and the City of Lancaster should continue to host but yet insist on improvements.

There is a need for these exposure tournaments – especially those which field so many teams like Lancaster – to put some profits back into the game. They all espouse ASA standards, but they don’t meet the fundamental requirement of installing 200 foot fences. ASA also encourages sponsors to provide contiguous fields, an accommodation ignored by too many tournaments. Fifteen Oktobefest games were played at a park with a single field. For a key game at Desert Sands, we counted five college coaches, and all of them were attracted by two players.

The guiding principle for all of these sponsors should be maximizing exposure for the players. Scattering college coaches like seeds into the wind is not in anyone’s interest.

Tournaments like Lancaster charge a big time fee -- $350 – but not all exposure tournaments provide big-time services. Leader boards are essential, not just for entities like SPY to track scores, but, for the hundreds of players, coaches, parents and fans who track these teams closely – they know the players on other teams, and, how well they do, particularly if they are about to meet, is essential knowledge. If Boulder, Aurora, Pennsbury, Canada Futures and other sponsors can provide up to date leader boards, so can Lancaster, Batbuster, Plantation, etc.

Also, given the revenue generated by these tournaments – not just the $350 entry fee but the allied revenues for hotels, food, etc. – the City of Lancaster, just like the parks authorities in Orange County, can put up fences. Moreover, these fields should be dragged, at least every third game.

Good quality, easily read maps are critical, as are written directions. Some college coaches found simpler routes to the outlying fields.

We were encouraged to see coaches affiliated with the 2003 Gold Nationals in Salem at Lancaster, making notes on what to do – and not to do. We applaud them on the youth activities they are incorporating into their planning – recognizing as so many of these tournament sponsors fail to do that these are teenage girls – and parades and speeches are not teenage activities. The fun night planned for Salem will be a big hit.

Finally, the umpiring at Lancaster ranged from very good to mediocre – and that is a direct product of trying to conduct 550 games in two days at 19 fields. These tournaments should set a limit of 80-84 tournaments. We would also like to see better competition through every bracket, which means more selectivity in deciding which teams can enter a given tournament, and/or better bracketing. I would rather see more tournaments (SPY is preparing a multiple coverage plan for 2003), preferably on different dates, but competing dates if necessary, rather than mega-tournaments.

End

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