The U-14 Wildcats made it a clean sweep for Windsor softball
teams last weekend, joining their U-16 older cousins in winning a
tournament championship.
The U-14 ŒCats recorded four wins in five outings in two days of
action in Folsom, beating Roseville, 8-4, Nevada County, 8-3 and
7-0, and then defeated the tournament host Folsom Aftershock, 8-5
in the title game on Sunday.
It was the third tournament title won by Windsor in the past
four tries in what has turned out to be a championship summer
season.
³Defense was the key again for us in this tournament,² said
coach Dennis Lucchesi. ³We had one bad game on Saturday, but the
girls came out focused and determined on Sunday and really played
well. This is a group of kids that aren¹t playing for trophies,
they just want to win.²
ŒCats¹ hurler Courtney Lucchesi made short work of Roseville in
the tourney opener, firing a four-hitter in an 8-4 win. Leading the
hitting corps were: Kayla Tyler (1 for 3, 3B), Nellie Praetzel (1
for 2, 3B) and Seraphie Allen (1 for 2).
The Wildcats easily defeated Nevada County, 8-3 in the second
game. Hurler Lacey Land turned in a strong outing, tossing a
complete game, four-hitter while fanning three. Land also led the
team with her bat, with a triple in three at-bats. Other top
hitters were Chrissy Pierce (1 for 3) and Lucchesi (1 for 1).
Windsor turned in a sub-par defensive showing in game three
against the host Folsom Aftershock, falling 6-5. Lucchesi took a
tough loss, allowing only three hits and three earned runs while
striking out a pair. Leading the attack were Megan Hunt (1 for 3,
3B), Colby Milliken (1 for 3, 3B) and Kayla Lowe (1 for 2).
The ŒCats were the second seeded team on Sunday, as they
defeated Nevada County, 7-0. Lucchesi was dominant, firing a
one-hit gem. Swinging hot bats were: Hunt (2 for 2), Paige Williams
(1 for 1) and Katie Delucchi (1 for 2).
The victory set up a rematch and title clash with the Folsom
Aftershock. Windsor came out swinging, as the first five batters
got aboard with hits in a five-run first inning. Folsom climbed
back into it with a steady comeback that had the Wildcats clinging
to a 5-4 lead until Land connected on a home run blast in the
seventh inning to ice an 8-5 win.
Land turned in an all-around great game, tossing a complete game
and fanning seven to notch the victory, and collected three hits at
the plate. Other top hitters were: Lowe (2 for 4, 2B) and Milliken,
Lucchesi, Tyler and Praetzel all with two hits in four trips.
The Wildcats will wrap up the summer campaign this weekend in
Sunnyvale.
