TEXAS THUNDER TAKE TWO FROM ARIZONA

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August 5, 2004 - HOUSTON, Texas – The Texas Thunder won both games of a doubleheader on Thursday against the Arizona Heat by scores of 6-0 and 2-1. In game one, the action started in the second inning when Julie Brooks (Rutgers) came in to pinch hit and went yard for the grand slam to make 4-0, scoring Clare Burnum (Organ State), Stephanie Ramos (UCLA), and Amanda Buchholz (University of Nebraska). The Thunder did not stop there, in the fifth inning an RBI from Karrie Rider (Mississippi State) scored Erin Evans, and another RBI from Ryan Realmuto (Oklahoma State) scored Elizabeth Bouck (DePaul) to make the game 6-0. This shut out win takes Peaches James’ record to 11-2 on the season. In game two Texas had trouble finding their bats, but regained them in the sixth inning when Kristen Zaleski (Texas State) ripped a RBI to score Erin Evans (University of Oklahoma) to make it one all. Ryan Realmuto, then hit the game-winning RBI single to score Elizabeth Bouck to take the lead 2-1. Texas went on to hold the Heat for the win, improving their record to 33-14, and helping Lindsay Chouinard (DePaul) to improve her record to 9-5 on the season. Thunder finishes up their three game series with Arizona on Friday, August 6, 2004 at 7:35pm, at the University of Houston Softball Field.

 

HEAT DROPS FIRST OF FOUR TO FIRST PLACE THUNDER Arizona remains two games back thanks to California win

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August 4, 2004 - HOUSTON, Texas – The Arizona Heat came to Texas riding a three-game winning streak at the hands of the California Sunbirds, but they dropped the opening game of the four game series by a final score of 1-0. Wednesday night’s game was being played as a makeup from the July 17 halted game. The two teams were only able to get through one batter before severe wind and rain forced the suspension of the game. When the two teams returned to action, it was the Texas Thunder who would threaten first. Texas began the game with a runner on first, as Kristen Zaleski (2-for-3) opened the July 17 game with a single, with sharp-hitting Lindsay Gardner (1-for-2) at the plate. Gardner would also reach base by way of a single, but she would advance no further than second base thanks in large part to a poor base running decision by Zaleski and timely pitching by Arizona starter Erica Beach (6-5). Beach would settle in after the Gardner single by retiring 14 of the next 16 batters she would face. Beach finished the game by allowing five hits and walking three to go along with her four strikeouts. But in the top of the sixth inning, Zaleski got the Thunder going again with a lined double into the outfield. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Gardner and a walk to Clare Burnum, designated player Ryan Realmuto (1-for-2, RBI) delivered the only RBI of the game with a hard single to right field. The Heat had several chances to get on the board in the game, as they stranded six runners on base, including two runners that reached second base with no outs. Jodi Otten was the big hitter on the night for the Heat, she finished the game 2-for-3 including a double to leadoff the game. The only other player to register a hit in the game for Arizona was Sara Pickering. Her hit was an infield hit that ricocheted off of the Texas pitcher. Texas pitcher Marissa Young (3-2) pitched effectively all night allowing only three hits while striking out six. She went a stretch where she retired four consecutive hitter, including Lisha Ribellia (0-for-3, 3 K) looking with two on in the bottom of the first inning. Even with the loss, the Heat remains just 2.0 games behind the New England Riptide for the final playoff spot in the 2004 playoffs. The Riptide lost for the fourth consecutive game on Wednesday night, dropping a 6-2 extra inning game with the California Sunbirds. The two will square off again on Thursday night in Stockton, Calif. The Thunder and Heat will play a doubleheader tomorrow night beginning at 6 p.m. CDT. All Thunder home games are played at the University of Houston’s Cougar Softball Stadium. For information on the Heat or for ticket information, visit the official team website at www.tucsonsoftball.com or call 520-296-9595. Tickets for the Heat are available for purchase at the Hi Corbett Field Box Office and can be purchased for $3-11. National Pro Fastpitch is the only professional women’s fastpitch league in the United States. The league is headquartered in Denver, and has been in operation since 1997 under the names Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Professional Softball League (WPSL).

 

RACERS AND THUNDER SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER AND SERIES Racers still trail Thunder by one game

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August 3, 2004 - AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Racers split the six-game series with a doubleheader split against the Texas Thunder on Tuesday evening at Firestone Stadium. The Racers took game one 3-0 before falling to the Thunder 3-0 in nine innings in the nightcap. Akron is currently one game behind Texas for first place in National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) standings. After playing four consecutive extra-inning games in the last two days, the Racers jumped on the NPF’s ERA leader, Texas pitcher Christa Williams with one run in the fourth inning. The league’s leader in batting average, Racers center fielder Iyhia McMichael led off the frame with an infield single and moved to third on a base hit off the bat of catcher Jenn Poore. McMichael touched home to give Akron the early lead on an RBI bunt single by first baseman Nicole Trimboli. The Racers added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a long home run courtesy of NPF Player of the Week, right fielder Trena Peel. Designated player Dana Degen reached in front of Peel with a one-out single to left field and was lifted for pinch-runner Antionette Armstrong. Peel followed, taking Williams’ offering deep over the right field fence to put Akron up 3-0. The homer was Peel’s third of the season, and keeps her in first place in the NPF with 23 RBIs. Pitcher Brandee McArthur threw her third consecutive shutout for the Racers, working the full seven innings and surrendering only three hits. McArthur improves her record to 9-7 and maintains a team-low 1.24 ERA. Game two featured a classic pitcher’s duel between Akron’s Radara McHugh and Texas’ Lindsay Chouinard, as each hurler held her opponent scoreless through eight innings. The Thunder broke through in the ninth when right fielder Julie Brooks knocked a three-run home run to right field, giving Texas the game. McHugh threw the full nine innings for the Racers, giving up the three runs on only five hits, two of which came in the ninth inning. Akron is next on the road with a three-game series against the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut, who are tied with the Racers for second place in the NPF. Akron continues its East-coast road trip against the New England Riptide where the teams will play two regularly scheduled games and finish the suspended game from June 11. The Racers return to Firestone Stadium on August 12-14 for a four-game set against the Arizona Heat. Akron and Arizona will play single games at 7:05 p.m. on August 12 and 13, and will finish up with a doubleheader on August 14 with games at 1:05 and 4:05 p.m. August 14 is also Akron Racers Fan Appreciation Day. For more information, call 330-376-8188 or log on to www.akronracers.org.