The Tinley Park Rockers 16U Gold traveld to Indianapolis to play in the SportZone ASA World Series Qualifier over the weekend of January 18-20, 2008.
The Rockers were placed in the always tough "Pool E" which as we know is known as the "Pool of Death" in the softball world.
Never-the-less, the Rocker girls braved 2 degree weather and showed up at 6:40 AM to play the Indiana Angels.
Sara Bujak took the mound against the Angels and was greeted rather rudely by the girls from Indiana. There were 4 straight singles, however the always top-notch Rocker defense caught some Indiana girls napping on the bases and Bujak got out by allowing only 1 run.
The score remained Indiana 1 Tinley 0 in the bottom on the second when Breanna Mcgee used her speed to get on first. With Breanna flying up the line, the 3rd baseman threw a ball that the 1st baseman couldnot come up with. McGee later stole 2nd base.
With McGee now on second and Erin Houlihan batting, the Rockers were a single away from tying the game. The feeling was that with McGee flying around 3rd base, no catcher in her right mind would stand in front of the plate with McGee coming at her.
Houlihan though had differnt thoughts. I am sure that a single was not going though her head and I am sure she was thinking why tie the game when I can give us the lead with one mighty swat. Sure enough, Erin got a pitch she liked and sent it to John Cougar Mellencamps house for a Home Run and the Rockers lead 2-1.
Indiana tied the game at 2 in the 3rd and Bujak was replaced by Karlie Ruane. Ruane did not let up any hits but a couple of walks gave Indiana a 3-2 lead.
We went to the bottom on the last inning. Were the Rockers Doomed? It seemed that way. But all of a sudden the fans started to rise on their feet as the excitement started to mount. What was going on you ask? Dee Barbaro picked up a bat and headed out of the dugout. As word spread through out the area, people started pouting into the SportZone to see Dee bat. She would not disapoint. Dee launched and Indiana offering into the morning sky and the Rockers were tied. HOME RUN BARBARO! Chants of Dee Dee Dee Dee echoed all the way to South Bend.
The 16U Gold would get a walk and two more singles in the inning but could not score another run. The game ended a tie and the Rockers had a bad taste in their mouth.
So the Rockers had to wait until 2:30 PM to play again. Inside the stomachs of each Rocker Player, a little ball of fire started to burn hotter and hotter. This burning sensation could be from either wanting to get back on the field to play again or from the mornings microwave egg and sausage breakfast. It was hard to tell.
But at 2:30, the Ohio Valley Thunderstyx from Kentucky stood in the way of the Rockers and their goal of wiining the pool.
Coach Jack handed the ball to Breanna McGee to get the job done.
The Rockers won the game 4-2 behind cluth hitting by Kaity Zenner, Karlie Ruane, and Katie Houlihan. All three players came up with clutch hits in a 3 run second inning.
The 4-2 victory gave the Rockers the championship in Pool E and gavethem a BYE until 10:00 AM Sunday morning. This was a big advanatage.
I spring forward to Sunday morning and I will leave out all the events from the Saturday night Kareokee.
The Rockers had a first round playoff match up with the Mid-Suburban Panthers. The ball was handed to Kalie Ruane for the start on the hill.
The Rockers started off strong by scoring 3 runs in the 1st inning. Alex Bartlett, Kelly McGrail, Alex Washkowiak, and Sara bujak all got on base and put the preasure on the Panthers.
On the defensive side, Karlie Ruane struck out 5 batters in three innings which included a 3 strike out 2nd inning. Breanna McGee came in for the save and the Rockers won 5-2
The Rockers next opponent was the Indy Crush and the ball was handed to Breanna McGee. McGee held the Crush scoreless for 3 innings allowing just 2 hits and striking out 2.
The Rockers scored runs in the 1st and 2nd inning to take a 3 run lead.
In the first, Kelly McGrail ripped a double down the right field line. The Indy pitcher tried to pitch the Andrew Sophomore away but little did she know that McGrail can drive the ball to the opposite field. McGrail stole 3rd and was batted in by Alex Washkowiak.
In the second, the people in the Dog pound started to howl becasue Ilanna "The Mutt" Primack came up to bat. The "Mutt" reached first and was quickly sacraficed to 2nd by Caity Zenner.
Up came Mel Kachinsky. Earlie Mel was showing off her new green dress for an upcoming school dance. Now, dressed to kill in a softball uniform, Mel ripped a single to score the Mutt.
Mel scored the third run when Erin Houlihan drove another base hit giving the Rockers what should have been a big enough lead at 3-0 to get to the finals.
Then the wheels fell off the cart.
Teh Crush scored 3 riuns off Mcgee in thge 4th due to 2 hits, 1 walk, and three errors while McGee was on the mound. McGee would leave with two strike outs and should have had a better result.
Sara Bujak came in on relief.
The game remained tied in the 6th inning and the game went into International Tie-breaker. you could just feel the tension in the air.
The Crush could not score in the topof the sixth and the Rockershad the game in the bag.
In the bottom of the sixth and a Mel Kachinsky on second, the Rockers could not get the run home. We would go to the dreaded seveth inning.
The Crush had the bases load with two outs and their batter hit agrand slam home run which knocked the Rockers out of the tournament.
In all the Rockers only lost one game during the weekend. It was a tough one to lose.
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