Vallejo tournament wrap up

The Vallejo tournament was another step forward for the Wildcats. Another weekend of firsts for the girls. First win on Sunday and first trophy. Third place in the tournament with only 13 games under their belt is pretty solid. Three games on Saturday in the Vallejo heat and two on Sunday with only 9 girls. Once again the story of two different teams. The team that comes to play ready and focused can play and beat anyone. The other unfocused and flat team has a tough time. An up and down Saturday saw the Wildcats get a big win to kick off the tournament. Bats were alive in the morning as they smashed out 16 hits while not allowing 1 on defense. Saja saw an inning in the circle striking out the side to close out a no hitter. After a break the second and third game saw a different Wildcats team take the field and the batters box. Very little fire and drive led to tough at bats for almost everyone. Pitching and catching was solid though. Defensive intensity was not there in games 2 & 3. Sunday morning would see the black uniforms out in force as a determined Wildcats team would take the field. A dominating performance in the first game saw a full 7 inning complete game for Taylor. She would strike out 12 in the game and get 2 hits at the plate. The Wildcats would play a complete game on Sunday morning, racking up 13 hits. Bases were stolen and runs were scored. Defense was tight. Katrina made a fantastic catch to save a run in right field. Mac E Chan would continue her great play at 3B with put outs on grounders and line drive to third. Hailey E would get 2 hits including beating out a bunt for a single. The game was stopped for 25 minutes due to a major leg injury to an opposing player on a play at the plate. When the game restarted the Wildcats would not let up. In the bottom of the 7th Taylor and Haley M would combine to strike out the side with the final out coming on a caught fouled third strike. Great game, first Sunday win. The second game on Sunday would see the Wildcats jump out early with Hailey E would single and steal her way to third and score on another Taylor hit. Shaky defense in the outfield in the first led to runs. There was a moment in the dugout where it was tough, the Wildcats were down and might have given in to the heat and pressure. They chose not to this time, and to fight. Taylor and Haley M show good leadership and support for the team. They would work hard to keep the girls focused. Bats came alive as Taylor C would single, Big Mac would put a fastball deep into right center for a double, and Haley M would also double to right center. Saja would fight hard at the plate as well with productive run scoring outs. Haley M would play as good as possible behind the plate. Stopping every ball, framing pitches, throwing out stealing runners, and tagging runners out at home while playing in her 5th game of the weekend behind the plate.Time was not on our side as the one opponent you cannot beat, the clock, would catch up to the Wildcats. Fantastic effort and determination. A few of the highlights were Taylor C going 7-11 at the plate without striking out once, as well as throwing over 400 pitches. Haley M stellar behind the plate and getting 5 hits. Hailey E would knock out 4 hits and play solid defense, showing good speed to the ball on grounders and stealing bases every chance she got. Saja would fight hard at the plate as well getting in with 4 hits of her own. Mac E Chan would chip in with 3 hits and more importantly play great at third base throwing out runners from third to first. Remember NO SUBSTITUTES, NO REST FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND. Once again the girls took a huge step forward and showed that they have it in them to get it down, they have it in them to dig deep and fight. The 9 girls who fought hard all weekend would bring home some hardware. A third place finish and the first Wildcat trophy. Congratulations to the Wildcats.