The Avalanche 12U played hard this weekend at the USA Softball Oregon Sate Championship in Medford. The Avalanche 12’s ended their season with 1 win and 2 losses at the tournament.
Game 1 on Friday was a slug-fest between the 12U and the Oregon Thunder. The Thunder would strike first with a 0-4 lead over the Avalanche in the first inning. Our girls would start chipping away at the deficit featuring #31 Natalie D hitting a double and #15 Amara N pinch running and scoring on a well placed bunt by #5 Isabella L. The game would remain in favor of the Thunder until the 5th inning, when #11 Jet H would tie the game with a steal to home on a passed ball. #40 Taylor A would give the Avalanche their first lead of the game with a steal home on a passed ball and #21 Lauren G would ground a ball to the pitcher, but still get the RBI, advancing Taylor to the plate. The Thunder would respond in the 6th inning with four runs which would prove to be the deciding factor in the game. #12 Ayla D would hit a triple setting herself up for a score off an RBI ground out from #13 Harley S, but the game would end 8-9.
Game 2 on Saturday would favor the Avalanche in another close match up. The girls from Central Oregon took on the Salem-Keizer Stars in a 6 inning contest. The Stars struck early with 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning. It was in the bottom of the 3rd inning when the Avalanche would get on the board. Set up by #10 Brooke L’s heads up running on a dropped 3rd strike and an HBP for #6 Isabella L, savvy base running would capitalize on passed balls and get Brooke home to score, bringing the total to 1-4.
After allowing 2 runs in the top of the 4th, the Avalanche came charging back with a double from #31 Natalie D and a Home Run dinger from #21 Lauren G to put two more runs across the plate. #4 Elliotte P would use her heads up running to score on a passed ball, bringing the score to 4-6. The hitting fireworks were not over as back to back triples from #11 Jet and #40 Taylor would drive in runs to tie the game at 6 apiece. #21 Lauren hit what would become the game winning RBI on a sac fly to center field. Pitcher #12 Ayla D. would set the batters down in the top of the 6th inning with two ground outs and a dramatic strikeout for the 3rd and final out of the game.
The Avalanche would drop game three to the Tigard Crush to end the tournament. #40 Taylor and #3 Emma M would shine bright, driving in runs for the Avalanche.
It was a great season for the 12U of Central Oregon Fast Pitch! What a strong future we have for this club with these great players. Well done ladies!
Go Avalanche!
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