Fusion-96 Wins Consolation Championship and Takes 3rd At Chaska Invitational
Pool play began Saturday morning in a light rain against a team from Stillwater MN. Fusion96 came on top 14-2. Anna Nichols was named by the Stillwater team as the games MVP. She received an award and her picture was placed on the Board of Honor with other team MVP’s. The second game in pool play Saturday was rained out.
Sunday morning was wet and gloomy. It also proved to be a gloomy game for the 96ers as they dropped only their 3rd game of the year, 5-1 to the Shakopee Black. The only run scored was by Jenny Lindgren scoring on a Regan Sheldon sacrifice fly. It was a rare lackluster performance for a team that prides itself on hard work and effort.
Things turned around in the next game against the Minnetonka Flash. In a scoreless game in the 4th inning, slapper Whitney Berens got a ball past the pitcher, followed up by a Hannah Nieman double. Setting the stage for a 2 run single by Peyton VandeBrake. The pesky Flash came storming back with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the 4th. Sarah Nolan then scored the winning run after her leadoff single and some very aggressive base running. Regan Sheldon was then called to pitch the 5th and final inning. The final Flash rally was squashed as Sheldon struck out the 4th hitter with a runner on 3rd base. Anna Nichols pitched the first 4 innings for the win. Madisen Owan made an outstanding catch in right field and Michaela Mayer doubled for the winners. Final score: Fusion96- 3, Minnetonka Flash- 2.
The final game of the tournament was against Chaska Black. The Fusion96 team broke up a tie in the bottom of the 5th. Starting with a Berens single followed by back to back doubles by Nieman and VandeBrake and the 96ers had 2 runs. After an out was made, Jenny Lindgren fought off what seemed to be about 10 pitches before driving a ball deep to left for a 3 bagger. Sarah Nolan drove her home with a sharp single. The final run of the day had Anna Nichols scoring on what was a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Emma Schultz. Anna Nichols threw the complete game 4 hitter for the win. Kourtney Isaacson and Rochelle Ramharter had outstanding catches in the outfield. Final score: Fusion96- 5, Chaska Black- 0. The Fusion96 team qualified for another National tournament and now looks forward to the Scheel’s tournament in Rapid City. |
