The Cavaliers defeated Toxic 11-3 in six innings Tuesday to win the 16U Prince William Girls Fastpitch Softball championship, making it their fourth title in five seasons.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, with one out and runners on first and third, Sarina hit a sacrifice pop-fly to the left-center gap, which brought Jazmin across home plate and extended the Cavaliers' lead, 9-3. Then Cavaliers catcher Rachael smashed an RBI double to left field, placing the winning run on second base. Next, Camille stepped up to the plate, after having gone 1-for-2 through five innings, and Toxic pitcher Sarah threw a wild pitch that allowed Rachael to steal third base. Two pitches later Sarah threw another errant pitch, allowing Rachael to cross home plate standing up and ending the game with a walk-off steal. Cheers erupted throughout the Cavaliers dugout.
"When they [the Toxic dugout] said I was too slow to steal, that really pushed me over the edge," said Rachael.
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Taunts from the Toxic dugout were abounding from the games start, in an attempt to psych out the undefeated Cavaliers, but aside from a couple huddle chants in between innings, the Cavaliers chose to do their responding on the field.
Cavaliers pitcher, Abi, had an excellent night on the mound, allowing only four hits and walking only one batter. She retired the side in order in the first, third, and sixth innings. Rachael called the majority of pitches for the Cavaliers, and Abi had success throwing the high outside fastball. They were able to keep the Toxic batters guessing with the occasional change-up, which coach Turner called when needed.
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"Abi is the best player in the league, and Abi and Rachael are the best pitcher and catcher combination in the league," said Cavaliers coach Warren Turner. "And, they are both working with different aliments. Rachael has diabetes, and Abi has a heart issue which she has just overcome. We really have to keep an eye on them, especially when it gets hot to make sure they don't overwork themselves."
In the bottom of the second inning, with only one out, Abi crushed a line drive to left field which sent two runners across home plate and gave the Cavaliers a 7-1 lead. With the next batter, Jazmine, at the plate, Toxic pitcher Jordyn threw a wild pitch which allowed Asya to steal home and reach the five-run per inning limit. There is a seven-run limit in the seventh inning. Jordyn was pulled at the bottom of the third.
"We played them twice in the regular season," said Toxic coach Rance Knapp, "and our main goal was to beat their pitcher. Their pitcher, to me, makes up their team. We've beat everyone else in the league and they're the one team we couldn't beat."
Abi batted 1-for-3 with two RBI. Jazmine hit 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch. Grace hit 2-for-3, and Rachael hit 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI, and two steals.
The PWGFS competes during the spring and fall seasons, and when the high-school players are not playing for their school during the fall, the PWGFS talent pool expands and the competition level increases.
"Our weaknesses are mental errors and watching the third strike," said coach Turner, when asked what his team needs to do in order to win its fifth title. "We need to do a better job being more aggressive at the plate, and we need to think situational ball-think about what we're going to do before the ball is pitched."
The PWGFS is an all-volunteer league and they are always in need of parents, or others, to coach, umpire, work the concessions, and maintain the fields. To volunteer visit PW Fast Pitch.
