TNJ GAME NOTES
Given the number of college coaches on hand, including representation from ACC, Big East, Atlantic Sun and A-10 conferences, who saw a number of quality 07’s and many 2008-09 grads, and, the opportunity to test try-out players against good competition, virtually every team played their roster – frequently at the expense of their W-L columns.
Thanks to Fred Latek and crew, the fields were in excellent condition, and while brisk winds carried a bite of cold, the weather held.
Biggest hits. Courtney Liddle, a Virginia player catching for Team New Jersey, jacked a shot over the center field fence which landed on top of the earthen berm 250 feet away and kept rolling. Kristen Adkins belted a 3-run shot for TX Glory. Amy Vaughan had 3 homers for RI Thunder..
Best Defensive Efforts. TX Glory 2nd Natalie Villarreal (committed to Texas A&M) raced out into RF, back to the ball, and snagged a Texas Leaguer as it dropped in the 1-1 tie with Team NJ. Kristen Adams, the Texas Glory ace committed to Florida, belted a homer which, for a brief second, was about to be a highlight reel for Beach Girls LF Christina Reed (on loan from Georgia) who hit the fence, had the ball for a nanosecond before it went over. Christina sprained her left arm. The run made the difference in a 4-3 Glory win.
Novel feasting. Tournament director Jim Barsalona asked the Blazing Angels, NJ Inferno and Inferno Red to create food stalls. Inferno Red created an Italian deli with Italian music; played the background music from The Godfather; I assured one woman that Al Pacino did not sing in the movie, however daughter Julie was there playing for the Shamrocks. Not sure she believed me on either count. I would tell you about Caruso but that would embarrass a nice lady. NJ Inferno had some incredible desserts. The Angels provided brisket and barbecue ribs prepared by coach Mike Fegeley.
RI Thunder 8, TNJ 2. The hosts jumped out to a 2-0 lead but the Thunder, who lost just one game, solved Brittany O’Donnell (2009), scoring 7 runs in the bottom of the 1st (3 off O’Donnell) and coasted to the win. The Thunder got very able outings on the mound this weekend from Jocelyn Abaray, Erin Wade, and Amy Vaughn, the last two are 08’s. Wade pitched this win with an array of off-speed pitches, with good location; Vaughan belted a 2-run homer. You have to marvel at the enthusiasm and skill Erica Cipoloni displays at 3rd, a 2010 grad who drew the attention of college scouts at the summer clinic. (She is also listed on the Pennsbury Gems roster.)
WJ Witches 4, Rockland Thunder 2
Vienna Stars 4, Nightmare 0
Inferno Red 1, Jersey Outlaws 1
Mystics White 8, Jersey Girls 1
Team NJ 1, TX Glory 1. First look at impressive Kristen Adkins, who pitches in the 60’s, and will bring a deceptive change and offspeed as well as a sharp drop and low rise to Florida. Adkins is also a slugger. This was the game in which Natalie Villarreal starred at 2nd. Lindsey Smith (08), one of those slightly built kids who get all they’ve got into a whip swing, lofted a HR for Texas. Katherine VanBenschoten reached on an error and scored on a passed ball. Very promising lefty Whitney Canion (08) pitched for Glory, which has enough weapons to be a Gold contender. Stephanie Speierman has a very strong arm at short but is even more impressive throwing hard from the mound, in relief of Shelby Wise.
FL Hurricanes 2, Jersey Inferno 0. Brittany Bowles (08) has had back problems but seems to be in good shape; she pitched well in this game. Jessica Mouse hit a 2-run HR. Monica Perry, who will return to GA Elite, pitched for Inferno.
RI Thunder 10, Jersey Girls 0
Inferno Red 6, NJ Rocks 0
Jersey Outlaws 2, Mystics White 2
Edison Angels 1, Rockland Thunder 0
FL Hurricanes 3, Shamrocks 2. This game, in which they were within a pitch or two of winning, was the highlight of the Shamrocks day. They proceeded to lose every game. In fairness, the Shamrocks had only one pitcher, Kerry Hickey, who had to pitch every game and should get an “iron man” award, and the Shamrocks looked at a number of people who have not yet made the team. (One standout, GiOnna DiSalvatore is going back to Team Florida. Julie Pacino has just joined the team. Both were good bats; both are committed to UCLA). The Shamrocks, facing Alabama-bound Kelsi Dunne, drew first blood in a game that was hitless until the 4th. Dorian Shaw (Michigan) jacked a 2-run HR. A hit batter, a walk, and a double steal, followed by a bases-loaded single by Jessica Mouse, narrowed the gap. Tiffany DeFelice tied the game with a HR. A bases-loaded double by Lauren Kramer sealed the win. Dunne had 16 Ks, Hickey 7.
TX Glory 4, Jersey Inferno 2
WJ Witches 4, Vienna Stars 2
Pennsbury Gems 6, NJ Pride 0
WJ Witches 0, Edison Angels 0
GC Hurricanes 3, Wichita Mustangs 0. Lauren Sewell (2009) winning pitcher.
WA Ladyhawks 6, Jersey Inferno 4. Monica Perry started for Inferno, relieved by Ashley Rampino. Kelsie Vallie pitched for the Ladyhawks, relieved by promising 08 pitcher Krista Shannon. The Ladyhawks were one of the stronger teams in the tournament (4-0-1). Inferno had a 4-2 lead, thanks to a bases-loaded double by Kasey Martini. But, two dropped third strikes and an error got the LH within one; another error at short tied the game. An inning later, another bases-loaded situation (two walks and a hit batter) yielded the final runs.
NJ Intensity 8, Vienna Stars 5
MC Belles 3, Nightmare 1
RI Thunder 8, NJ Rocks 1
TX Glory 2, Wichita Mustangs 0. Canion got the win with relief from McCloud in the 7th. Shortstop Krystle Huey (committed to Oklahoma) drove in both runs. Shaina Brock took the loss for the Mustangs.
WA Ladyhawks 11, Shamrocks 1. 15-year of Krista Shannon had a good game, while the Shamrocks rested some of their usual starters. The Shamrocks got their run on a groundout by Dorian Shaw in the top of the 1st. The LH scored 3 in the 1st – the first run on an rbi triple by Melanie Stoehr – and added 2 runs in the 2nd.
Blazing Angels 7, NJ Pride 3. Down 5-1 in the bottom of the 6th, the Pride, who struggled all weekend, loaded the bases and gained some pride when Monica Evangelista drove in 2 runs. The Angels scored 3 in the 1st; 2 in the 2nd; and 2 in the 6th. Sam DiPompo homered for the Angels. Jessica Iacobucci was the winner. Jaci Rahay started for the Pride.
TC Tremors 3, MC Belles 2
Pennsbury Gems 5, Edison Angels 3.
GC Hurricanes 3, WA Ladyhawks 3. Well played game. Like Texas Glory, the Hurricanes are loaded with players committed to the big schools. Tiffany DeFelice (2 homers) is going to Florida. Jessica Mouse, who also went yard in a game, and Tiffany Shaw are headed to LSU. Bowles and Sewell pitched for the Hurricanes..
Beach Girls 3, Shamrocks 0. The Beach Girls didn’t qualify in 2006 but this one of the better teams Joe Botti has had in recent years.
NJ Intensity 2, Blazing Angels 1
Wichita Mustangs 3, Team NJ 2. Brittany O’Donnell pitched for TNJ; Nikki Armagost for Wichita.
Pennsbury Gems 4, TC Tremors 3. The Tremors were up 3-1 behind Chelsea Plimpton but were felled by errors and the home by the Gems Sarah Michalowski (Hofstra).
Blazing Angels 1, Beach Girls 0. The Angels scored in the 7th to secure the win for 2007 pitcher Amanda Olender.
NJ Intensity 5, NJ Rocks 4
Sunday Games
Beach Girls 8, Jersey Inferno 2. Cassie Reilly-Boccia and Danielle Fagan homered for Inferno.
FL Hurricanes 1, TX Glory 0. Kelsi Dunne vs Kristen Adkins – who will undoubtedly face each other many tomes for Alabama and Florida, respectively. The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead in the 1st and made it hold up.
Vienna Stars 3, Wichita Mustangs 0
MC Belles 3, RI Thunder 2
WA Ladyhawks 3, Team NJ 2. Stephanie Speierman for TNJ, Kelsie Vallies started for LH. This was the game in which Courtney Liddle hit that 250 foot bomb, giving TNJ a 2-1 lead. The Ladyhawks tripled then scored the tying run. Caitlin Colvin relieved for Washington which scored the winning run in the bottom of the 5th.
Texas Glory 4, Beach Girls 3. Hard-throwing lefty Whitney Canion got the win with relief from Sarah McCloud (committed to Georgia). Kristen Adkins hit a 3-run homer in the 3rd which, for an instant, looked like a miraculous catch by Christina Reed but she couldn’t close and the ball went over.
Gold Coast Hurricanes 2, Team NJ 0. Battle of youngsters. The Hurricanes are developing a high-potential pitcher in Lauren Sewell (2009). TNJ countered with another 2009 pitcher, Brittany O’Donnell.
Wichita Mustangs 3, Shamrocks 1. Nikki Armagost was the winner.
TC Tremors 3, NJ Rocks 1
WA Ladyhawks 4, Blazing Angels 0
Edison Angels 6, NJ Pride 0
Beach Girls 3, Vienna Stars 2. Linda Pirro homered for the Stars but lost the game in relief.
Jersey Inferno 10, Shamrocks 3. Rampino and Perry pitched. Desi Giordano homered.
Rockland Thunder 3, NJ Rocks 2
RI Thunder 4, Jersey Outlaws 2. Erin Wade started; Jocelyn Abaray finished. Amy Vaughan finished with 3 home runs, 2 against Team NJ and 1 against the Rocks.
TC TREMORS GOLD 3, NJ ROCKS 1. 5 innings. Chelsea Plimpton ’07 pitched a 2 hitter with 6 Strikeouts. Anderson Conte ’08 hit a 2 run single in the 3rd and Amy Couch hit a homerun in the 5th.
TC TREMORS GOLD 2, INFERNO RED 0. 6 innings. Jordan Ingalls ’08 pitched 5 innings of 2 hit ball and Anderson Conte ’08 pitched the 6th striking out 2. Morgan Nandin and Lucia Meola both had RBI singles in the 2nd inning for the scoring
TC TREMORS 2, NJ WITCHES 1. 6 innings. Chelsea Plimpton ’07 pitched 3 hitter and striking out 8. Amy Couch ’08 had a 2 run single in the 4th for the runs
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