HOOVER, Ala. -- Akron designated player Jessica Garcia lined a two-run double to right-center field in the top of the sixth, and pitcher Lisa Norris threw a complete game to lead the Racers to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Bandits in the opening game of the 2014 NPF Championship Series at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Ala.
In the other game, the USSSA Pride scored at least one run in each of the first five innings, and NPF Pitcher of the Year Cat Osterman threw five shutout innings, as the Pride defeated the Pennsylvania Rebellion, 6-0.
Akron threatened in the top of the first after a one-out single to left field by left fielder Jill Barrett and a bunt single by Nerissa Myers, the NPF Offensive Player of the Year. However, Chicago starting pitcher Monica Abbott shut down the threat by getting a pop out and then striking out Garcia.
In the bottom of the first, Chicago got a leadoff double to left center by Megan Wiggins; Wiggins moved to third on a groundout by Amber Patton. Wiggins scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead. One out later, both catcher Kristen Butler and first baseman Brittany Cervantes drew walks on 3-1 counts, giving the Bandits runners on first and second with two outs; designated player Alisa Goler walked on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Norris got right fielder RT Cantillo to fly out to left to end the inning.
The Bandits had runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Norris got Patton to ground out and end the threat.
Abbott had retired 11 in a row, including six strikeouts, before centerfielder Taylor Schlopy led off the top of the fifth with a single to right for Akron. Schlopy moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Montalvo. Abbott then struck out Racers catcher Haley Outon and second baseman Ashley Thomas to end the Racers’ half of the inning.
In the top of the sixth, with one out, Barrett singled and stole second for the Racers. Abbott struck out Myers swinging. After a walk to Akron first baseman Charlotte Morgan, Garcia doubled to right center, driving in two runs and giving the Racers a 2-1 lead.
Chicago came right back in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Cantillo was hit by a pitch, then advanced to third on a fielding error, giving the Bandits runners on the corners. Second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz grounded to second, and Thomas fired to the plate to get Cantillo for the second out. Wiggins grounded to first to end Chicago’s half-inning.
Norris allowed a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out Butler for the second out. Cervantes singled to right, giving the Bandits runners on first and second, with two outs. Goler singled to left, loading the bases for Chicago with two outs. Norris got Cantillo to pop out to short to end the game.
Norris pitched all seven innings, scattering eight hits and striking out one. She allowed just the one unearned run.
With her two-RBI double in the sixth, Garcia was named the DeMarini Difference Maker of the game.
The Racers’ roster included several names familiar to softball fans in the state of Alabama. Pitcher Lannah Campbell played for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while her twin sister, Hannah, played collegiately at the University of South Alabama. Charlotte Morgan and Kelley Montalvo both played for the University of Alabama.
Pride 6, Rebellion 0
Osterman struck out the first two Rebellion batters of the game on seven pitches as Pennsylvania went down in order to start the game.
In the bottom of the first, with one out, Pride centerfielder Caitlin Lowe had an infield single and advanced to second on an error by Rebellion starting pitcher Sarah Pauly. Lowe advanced to third on a flyout by Madison Shipman, then scored on an illegal pitch by Pauly to give the Pride a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Pennsylvania had runners on first and second with no outs as catcher Taylor Edwards was hit by a pitch and rightfielder Mandy Ogle reached on a fielder’s choice; Osterman then struck out second baseman Lauren Lappin and designated player B.B. Bates before getting first baseman Briana Hamilton to ground out and end the Rebellion’s rally.
In the bottom of the second, the Pride added a run on a solo home run by rightfielder Kelly Kretschman to lead off for the Pride. One out later, Rebellion centerfielder Samantha Garcia robbed Pride catcher Megan Willis of a home run with a leaping catch over the wall in center field.
The Pride scored for the third consecutive inning as shortstop Madison Shipman was on first with two outs then scored after a single by third baseman Andrea Duran, the NPF Player of the Year, and a fielding error by leftfielder Brittney Lindley; Duran went to third on the play, and the Pride led 3-0 after three innings.
Pennsylvania again started an inning with two runners on in the fourth as Edwards walked on a full count, then Ogle singled to left. Catcher Megan Willis picked Edwards off at second, then Duran made a leaping grab at third and threw to second to get Ogle for the second out. Osterman recorded her sixth strikeout when she got Bates swinging to end the Rebellion’s half of the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Pride led off with a single by Kretschman and a double by designated player Kristyn Sandberg. A sacrifice fly by Willis extended the USSSA lead to 4-0. They added a run when centerfielder Natasha Watley reached on an error, with pinch runner Sharonda McDonald scoring from second on the play to give the Pride a 5-0 advantage after four innings.
In the Pride’s half of the fifth, there was a leadoff walk to Shipman and then Duran doubled into the left-field corner. A sacrifice fly by first baseman GiOnna DiSalvatore extended the USSSA lead to 6-0.
Osterman went five innings, allowing just two hits and no runs while striking out seven Rebellion batters; she walked one and hit two batters in her five innings of work. Danielle Lawrie came on in relief of Osterman in the top of the sixth and pitched two shutout innings.
Osterman was named the DeMarini Difference Maker of the game.
The championship series continues today at the Hoover Met. USSSA and Pennsylvania will play the second game of their best-of-3 series at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Chicago and Akron matchup at 8 p.m.
-- courtesy of National Pro Fastpitch
