Softball

AU Softball: A Strong and Dominant Week Four

- by LaDarius Brown
Athletes Unlimited Softball

Overall, Season Two of AU Softball has given us everything we, as fans, could ask for. Entering the next to last week of this season, the bats have been hotter than a Florida summer. As for the gloves, it is just as hot but much flashier with the leather. Nevertheless, let us dive into Week Four of AU Softball.

Game 19: Team Jaquish Dominant in the Circle

Balanced against a very good lineup in Team Osterman, pitchers Alyssa Denham and lefty Haylie Wagner put on a show. Firstly, Denham pitched five innings, allowing one hit while striking out three. Equally important is that this was her first start in AU Softball. She won MVP 1 honors. Secondly, Wagner put a bow on the shutout, throwing two innings of one-hit ball. Obviously, the offense was scarce in this game.

All of the offense came in the fourth inning with a solo home run off the bat of Tori Vidales and a double from Nadia Taylor, scoring Megan Wiggins. For their efforts, Vidales was the game’s MVP 2 as Taylor garnered MVP 3 honors. However, the lone bright spot for Team Osterman was the pitching of Olympian Taylor McQuillin. She went four innings, allowing four of Team Jaquish’s five hits. Also, she had three strikeouts in the 2-0 loss.

Game 20: Urtez is Golden for Team Chidester

Together with being the first-round pick for Amanda Chidester’s Gold squad, Anissa Urtez drove in four runs in an 8-3 win over Team Ocasio (Team Purple). Deservingly, she earned MVP 1 honors. On the whole, this game was close for the first seven innings. Then, Team Chidester took over in extras, adding five runs in the eighth inning to pull away.

The first three runs came in the top of the sixth inning for Team Chidester. Sam Fischer slammed a solo homer. It was her first in this AU Softball season and was the MVP 2. Next, Urtez scored Haylie McCleney with an RBI single to center. Lastly, Morgan Zerkle hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Ali Aguilar. Balanced against that inning for Team Gold, Team Purple countered with a three-run inning of their own.

In the bottom of the seventh, infielder Amanda Sanchez hit an RBI single to left field, bringing in team captain Aleshia Ocasio. Moreover, former Florida Gator Amanda Lorenz hit a two-run double, bringing in Sis Bates and Sanchez. Then, Team Chidester took over in extras, adding five runs in the eighth inning to pull away.

Urtez hit a three-run double, scoring Aguilar. Chidester, and Fischer. As well, shortstop Sydney Romero brought in both Zerkle and Urtez with her triple down the right-field line. Pitcher Sara Groenewegen won MVP 3, tossing three and two-thirds innings for Team Purple. Not to mention, Ocasio was in the circle for all eight innings.

Game 21: Team Ocasio Pounced on Team Jaquish in a 14-1 rout

A solo shot by Caleigh Clifton in the bottom of the third inning was all the offense squeezed out by Team Orange. Altogether, team Ocasio had 14 runs on 16 hits, led by catcher Gwen Svekis and her five RBIs. Three of Svekis’ RBIs came on a three-run blast in the top of the sixth inning. She rightfully won MVP 1 honors for her performance.

Identically, her battery mate, pitcher Odicci Alexander, threw five innings, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts. She showed off her bat, hitting a double in the top of the sixth. She was the MVP 2 of the game. Kelsey Stewart had three RBIs, including a home run in the fourth inning, giving her MVP 3.

Game 22: Eberle Excellent in Circle for Team Gold

Provided that we have seen Team Gold get it done at the plate, they show their balance in the circle. Carrie Eberle, this year’s Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, has been one of the best arms in AU Softball this season. After throwing four innings for Team Gold in their win over Team Ocasio, Eberle tossed six innings versus Team Osterman and Team Blue. She allowed one run on five hits with two strikeouts. As a result, she was the MVP 1 of the game.

Zerkle gave Eberle some support with a two-run shot in the bottom of the first, along with Aguilar‘s RBI double, scoring Chidester. For her performance, Zerkle got MVP 3 honors. Urtez captured MVP 2 honors with her two hits and three RBIs, two of which came via a double in the fifth inning. Team captain Osterman gave up four runs on four hits, in addition to three walks and three strikeouts in the 6-1 loss.

Game 23: Purple Power Makes Team Osterman Feel Blue

Undoubtedly, when you have Ocasio or Alexander on your roster, it will be a long day for opposing hitters. Conversely, if both Ocasio and Alexander are on the same roster, any offense will be non-existent. In this game, both pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout of Team Osterman, winning 5-0. Ocasio went five innings, striking out five with a walk, earning MVP 3 honors and 20 points.

Sanchez had another great game, launching a three-run homer in the top of the first inning, earning 60 points and the MVP 1 honor. Equally, Lilli Piper hit a two-run double in the top of the third, bringing in Svekis and Erika Piancastelli. Surprisingly, Team Osterman had a total of two runs in their three games this week in AU Softball.

Game 24: Eberle Excels Again in the Circle

For fear that I am being repetitious, Eberle had herself a game in the circle for Team Gold. In the 2-1 win over Team Jaquish, Eberle went the distance, allowing just one run, four hits, a walk, and struck out four. Outside of the legendary Cat Osterman, no one has been as commanding in the circle in a week as Eberle.

To emphasize, she pitched 17 innings this week giving up just thirteen hits and two. Even more, opposing hitters had a .224 batting average against her. The only homer allowed from her right arm this week came from Jaquish in this game.

All things considered, she was the MVP 1 of this game, which helped her immensely on the leaderboard. Aguilar’s solo shot in the bottom of the sixth earned her MVP 2 honors. Finally, Denham for Team Jaquish was the MVP 3 as she allowed one run and five hits in five innings.

Week Five Team Captains

Entering the final week of Season Two of AU Softball, there are three returning captains from Week Four: Ocasio (Team Gold), Chidester (Team Orange), and Jaquish (Team Purple). With this in mind, a notable absence is Osterman as a team captain. She dropped nine spots on the leaderboard, from three to 12. In reality, it is a shocker, but Eberle, who rose 16 spots from 19 to three, will lead Team Blue.

In the final analysis, one of the biggest questions heading into the final week of AU Softball is where Osterman will land. At any rate, her final games in her professional career and of Season Two will be from Sept. 25th to Sept. 27th.

Follow me on Twitter: @ladarius_brown and read other amazing articles on Beyond Women’s Sports.

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About LaDarius Brown

I'm LaDarius Brown and I'll forever love the Seattle Storm and Sue Bird is my forever GOAT. Big time lover of wrestling and my love for women's sports is lifelong. P.S. I'm a UConn WBB fan (that's a secret between just you and I)

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