RISING STARS DAY ONE

This year’s tournament (aka Plantation ) fields 156 teams playing on three complexes.  There are 15 fields at just the Bamford complex, and the 150 games scheduled for Saturday begin at 8am and continue into the night.

 

There is no leader board to track wins and losses.  Given the enormity of the tournament, which has attracted college coaches and assistants from all across the USA , SPY can do little more than give a flavoring of the games.

 

We tried to be especially watchful for younger talent.  We will start with the VA Shamrocks because they finished 2nd at 2003 Gold and there is a question in Gold circles whether they can compete again at that level without Stephanie Van Brakle and Alexis Switenko.  Tommy Orndorff has three young pitchers; we’ve seen two.  Jenny Clohan is a position pitcher who clocks in the low 60s; an ’05.  Megan Elliott, an 06 who is just 15, was very impressive against the Texas Magic (weaker than last summer’s team); her fastball clocks at 65-66; one of the most determined young pitchers we’ve seen.  Star shortstop Courtney Bures, middle infielderd Maddy Coon and slugger Dani Woods return.  A very young team at present, there is real potential here for the 2004 campaign.

 

Team New Jersey only plays fall ball.  Based on their performance at Oktoberfest and practice games here, TNJ could compete effectively in Gold.  Dianne Frankiewicz, a star highschool pitcher in Virginia , defeated Indian River CC last night 6-3.  Jackie Tarulli came within inches of a homer, her blast hitting the top of the fence and bounding back into the field.  TNJ also pitches 04 Rachel Wiggins and Kristen dela Campa.

 

The most obvious aspect of Dot’s Diamonds is how much their playing style reflects that of their coach, Dot Richardson, two-time Olympian.  They were crushing the Colorado Comets 7-0 when we left.  Lindsay Graham, an 04, was effective in the shutout.  We very much liked a JUCO player, lefty slapper Stephanie Shelley; all-around player, infield and outfield, who runs the bases with speed and smarts.

 

Miami Mini Canes will go as far as Melissa Pena can take them.  This was not her best day – not having pitched since she shut down the USA Pan Am team for six innings last summer – but the upside is there.  Against the Pennsbury Gems, Pena only pitched two innings but got stronger as she found her groove; walked the first two batters who scored on a ringing double by Killian Roessner (who caught for the Shamrocks at Gold and is committed to LSU) but all three outs in the first inning were Ks, and she notched two more in the 2nd before giving way.  Pennsbury won 3-2.

 

We were late getting to the New Mexico Sundancers first game; they lost 4-0 to Washington Spirit Gold. 

 

Houston Power has the largest pitcher we saw, 05 Elise Orange , who had some good moments against North Carolina Challengers.  Challenger Carol Lilley had a 2-0 lead for much of the game, but Power tied it 2-2 when outfielder Monica Patin 04 slugged a two-rbi hit.  We left with the game tied 2-2.

 

Minnesota Irish edged American Athletics Gold (Hay-Bollinger) 2-1 on last inning heroics by catcher Nicole Cheever 05, who scored on an rbi by Mackenzie Johnson.

 

Washington Lake Breeze tied Illinois Chill 3-3, but came back last night to defeat Tampa Wildcats Red 9-2.

 

 

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