The Washington 14U All-Stars continued to make waves in the pool play portion of the Babe Ruth Southeast Regional tournament in Glen Allen, Va. as they went 2-0 on Friday to wrap up pool play with a perfect 4-0 record.
Those victories propelled the All-Stars into the semifinal round of the tournament where they will face Pamlico at 11 a.m. today for the right to advance to Sunday’s championship game.
On Friday it was déjà vu all over again for the All-Stars as they played Mt. Dora (Florida) and Summit Point (W.V.) for the second straight day.
In a rematch of Thursday’s pool play game with Mt. Dora the All-Stars did not need any late game dramatics to win this time around, just some really good defense.
Sarah Lynch came up with a fantastic grab in the outfield to set the tone in the first inning, while the All-Stars closed out their 5-0 victory with a phenomenal double play by shortstop Meghan Moore.
“Defense was the key today because Mt. Dora came out swinging,” Washington Girls Fastpitch Softball League president Greg Dority said. “Sarah Lynch saved us in the first inning by going deep into right-center to pull down a ball and save two runs.
“Then, Meghan Moore made the play of the tournament with a game-ending double play. She went to short-left center (to pull down a fly) and then fired the ball to first to double off the runner and end the threat and the game. Coach (Brad Horton) has preached defense for a very long time and it came up big for them today.”
So did their bats, as the All-Stars rallied for three runs in the third and two in the fifth. Jordan Pierce and Rachel Lang both drove in runs before pinch-runner Sydney Keech stole home to go up 3-0.
In the fifth, Lynch and Hailey Harris singled their way on before Moore boomed a two-run double to take a 5-0 lead.
Moore finished the game going 3-4 with two RBIs, while Pierce went 2-3 with an RBI, Harris finished 2-4, Chaleigh Baynor went 2-3 and Haley Witham and Meghan Horton each had a hit.
Lang got the win as she scattered six hits in five innings while striking out two. Harris pitched the final two innings and allowed zero hits and runs.
The All-Stars showed resiliency in their 13-10 win over Summit Point as they built up a 7-0 lead before Summit Point pieced together a six-run rally in the fifth to close the gap before Washington responded with a deciding six-run rally in the sixth.
The rally was highlighted by a deep bases loaded triple by Pierce that put the All-Stars up 12-6. Washington would tack on one more run before the inning ended and hold on to take a 13-10 victory.
Pierce went 3-4 in the game with three RBIs, while Moore was 1-4 with a double, Horton went 2-3 with three RBIs, Baynor was 1-4 and drove in two runs, while Lynch and Witham had a hit each.
Harris got the win as she threw 3 1/3 innings, while Lang pitched the final 3 2/3.