Seeing how AUX Softball takes place about two hours away from Hollywood in San Diego, it felt appropriate after games seventeen and eighteen. Without question, if you love drama, offense and walk-offs, you’ve come to the right place. On the AUX Softball leaderboard, pitcher Danielle O’Toole, catcher Dejah Mulipola and outfielder Morgan Zerkle were atop the leaderboard. Let’s recap the final two games of AUX Softball and who was crowned champion.
Game Seventeen: O’Toole’s squad wins it in extras over Team Fischer 4–3
Photo Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
In this case, both teams went scoreless for the first three innings of the game. However, designated player Gwen Svekis slammed a two-run homer in the fourth inning for Sam Fischer’s team. The Oregon Ducks catcher earned MVP 3 honors for her performance. Not to be outdone, pitcher Rachel Garcia hit a two-run shot of her own in the sixth for O’Toole’s team. The UCLA standout was the game’s MVP 1 for her efforts.
.@raaaccchhheeell sent this one all the way back to @UCLASoftball 💥
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 24, 2022
Team O’Toole reclaims the lead by way of Garcia’s first homerun with Athletes Unlimited.#AUX | 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/j1TYmB4Sgv
In any case, we head to extra innings tied at two runs apiece. First, infielders Caleigh Clifton and Sashel Palacios each had an RBI in the top of the eighth inning for O’Toole. In the final analysis, the run scored by infielder Courtney Gano (remember the name) wasn’t enough for Team Fischer.
For the most part, O’Toole helped her cause, getting the win and MVP 2 honors. The lefty tossed the final four and third innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits.
Game Eighteen: Gano goes deep to win in the tenth for Fischer’s squad
Photo Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
For the most part, this final game was an all-time classic. Firstly, in the first inning, infielder Sydney Romero hits a homer for Zerkle’s team. Then, following an RBI by infielder Andrea Filler, Fischer’s team got on the board in the second inning. Gano knocked in two runs with a homer to left field, tying the game. Important to note: we don’t get another run in this contest until the top of the eighth inning.
At that point, infielder Nadia Taylor got an RBI single for Team Zerkle while Fischer hit a sacrifice fly. In the top of the ninth inning, we get two runs for Zerkle’s squad: RBI singles from outfielder Haylie McCleney and Romero. Yet, in the bottom half of the inning, Svekis hits a two-run homer to left field to tie the game at five runs each.
As shown above, we’re still extra innings as the tenth inning was one many won’t soon forget. Even though infielder Lilli Piper knocked in two runs with a double in the top of the inning, the game was far from over. Outfielder Megan Wiggins tied the game again with a single to left-center field in the bottom of the inning for Team Fischer.
WHAT AN ENDING 🤯@CGano8 hits her second bomb of the game… A WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM! #SCTop10 | 📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/mp0PZfCbQ8
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 26, 2022
By and large, the most appropriate way to cap off the inaugural AUX Softball had to be a homer, right? Given that it’s been about the long ball, Gano slammed a grand slam to win it for Fischer’s squad. All in all, game eighteen was everything and then some.
A Look at the Winners
Photo Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
Congratulations to O’Toole for winning it all as Garcia and Mulipola finished second and third, respectively. What’s more, O’Toole held off a late surge by Garcia, who came in strong late. In addition, infielder Sis Bates was the well-deserved Geico Defensive MVP as she flashed some leather throughout. Don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself:
NO FLY ZONE ❌@SisBates22 doing what she does 🤯#SCTop10 | 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/TT13T8kWZD
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 24, 2022
On a personal note, covering the inaugural AUX Softball was a pleasure. As can be seen, these players are true athletes and competitors in every sense of the world. I loved every minute of it.
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