Category: ASA Girls’ Fast Pitch

2000 ASA 16-Under Girls A Fast Pitch Nationals

2000 held at Garland, TX on August 8-13.


Champion – Tuff-E-Nuff, Cypress, California
Runner Up – Orange County Batbusters, Claremont, California


Tuff-E-Nuff based out of Cypress, Calif, won the double elimination championship in Garland, Tex. by defeating the Orange County Bat Busters by identical 2-1 scores in the finals.

“It feels great to win the title,” said Shanna Mann, a junior at Hart High.

Mann scored the game-winning run for Tuff-E-Nuff off Jaisa Creps’ RBI-single during the second game of the finals. The run not only made the team’s championship dreams a reality, but also gave Tuff-E-Nuff its third national championship in five years.

However, the road to the national championship wasn’t an easy ride. Tuff-E-Nuff played a series of preliminary round games last week during the first three days of the championship before heading into the playoffs.

The team had to win the championship from the losers bracket after falling to the Florida Stingrays in the second round of the playoffs Saturday afternoon.

“It was all business when we were there,” said the 16-year-old Creps. “We were mentally stronger than all the other teams there and that kept us one step ahead of everyone else.”

Faced with elimination, Tuff-E-Nuff lived up to its name by winning five straight games to grab the 2000 ASA National Championship. Each member of the team received a plaque recognizing their accomplishment.

“I knew we could win in the end.” Valencia High sophomore Creps said. “We were really pumped up and focused to win the championship.”

Tuff-E-Nuff won eight straight games in 24 hours en route to the championship.

The win set a personal milestone for Nicole Delfino as well. It marked Delfino’s third championship win in her youth softball travel team career after winning it in 1996 and 1998.

“I have never played at this level of intensity,” said Delfino, who will be joining Mann at Hart for her junior year. “All the teams were committed to winning which made it harder for us to get the championship.”

Tuff-E-Nuff won the Independence Day tournament in Colorado earlier in the year.

Monica Abbott pitched for the Salinas Storm beating the California Rebels who won the Southern California Regional. Abbott also struck out 10 against the Miami Stingrays.


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Tuff-E-Nuff, Cypress, CA (10-1)
2. Orange County Batbusters, Claremont, CA (6-2)
3. Hot Shots, Phoenix, AZ (5-2)
4. Salinas Storm, Salinas, CA (6-2)
5t. Miami Stingrays, Coral Gables, FL (4-2)
5t. South Gwinnett Comets, Lilburn, GA (4-2)
7t. Fear This, Grand Prairie, TX (5-2)
7t. Texas Storm, Pasadena, TX (5-2)
9t. Boom, Chehalis, WA (3-2)
9t. California Rebels, Bellflower, CA (5-2)
9t. Dazie Power, Pembroke Pines, FL (4-2)
9t. Intensity, Tulsa, OK (5-2)
13t. California Grapettes, Winton, CA (4-2)
13t. Louisiana Patriots, Pride, LA (4-2)
13t. Southern California Storm, San Clemente, CA (4-2)
13t. USA Glory, Windsor, CA (6-2)
17t. Central California Cruisers, Templeton, CA (2-2)
17t. Elite 2000, Nashville, TN (4-2)
17t. Gordon Panthers, Santa Ana, CA (3-2)
17t. High Sierra Diamonds, Reno, NV (2-2)
17t. K.C. Breeze, Lenexa, KS (3-2)
17t. Lethal Mizuno Sox, Rowlett, TX (2-2)
17t. Oklahoma Twisters, Norman, OK (2-2)
17t. Texas Comets, College Station, TX (3-2)
25t. Compuware, West Bloomfield, MI (2-2)
25t. Farmington Bandits, Farmington, NM (2-2)
25t. Junior Cats, Tucson, AZ (3-2)
25t. Lady Lasers, Grafton, OH (3-2)
25t. Lil’ Saints, Phoenix, AZ (2-2)
25t. Orland Park Sparks, Orland Park, IL (4-2)
25t. Southern Aces, Social Circle, GA (3-2)
25t. Tulsa Renegades, Tulsa, OK (2-2)
33t. BC Explosion, Vestal, NY (3-2)
33t. Breeze Fast Pitch, Washougal, WA (3-2)
33t. Buffalo Bisons, East Amherst, NY (2-2)
33t. Chattanooga Stars, Signal Mountain, TN (1-2)
33t. Diamond Dusters, Huntington, WV (3-2)
33t. Fresno Force, Fresno, CA (2-2)
33t. Illinois Extreme, Geneseo, IL (1-2)
33t. K.C. Extreme, Olathe, KS (1-2)
33t. K.C. Shockwaves, Kansas City, MO (1-2)
33t. Nitro, Plano, TX (1-2)
33t. N.W. Extreme, Canby, OK (1-2)
33t. Oklahoma All Stars, Tulsa, OK (1-2)
33t. Orange County A’s, Temecula, CA (2-2)
33t. Pony Express, Aurora, CO (2-2)
33t. Shockers, Keller, TX (3-2)
33t. West Bay Nuggets, Burlingame, CA (1-2)
49t. Bloomington Force, Bloomington, MN (2-2)
49t. Charter Oxygen Trackers, Marquette, MI (1-2)
49t. Cowgirls, Kennedale, TX (1-2)
49t. Fort Worth Batbusters, Fort Worth, TX (1-2)
49t. Hearts Of Texas, Austin, TX (2-2)
49t. Hot Stuff, San Jacinto, CA (1-2)
49t. Jersey Outlaws B, Mt. Ephram, NJ (1-2)
49t. K.C. Sidewinders, Lee’s Summit, MO (1-2)
49t. Keller Diamonds, Southlake, TX (0-2)
49t. Nashville Wild Things, Franklin, TN (1-2)
49t. N.E.T.X. Sluggers, Mt. Pleasant, TX (1-2)
49t. Orange County Dynasty, Fullerton, CA (0-2)
49t. Phoenix Glory, Chandler, AZ (0-2)
49t. Southern California Stealth, West Hills, CA (2-2)
49t. St. Louis Sluggers (Lommel), Wildwood, MO (1-2)
49t. Texas Sox, Garland, TX (2-2)
65t. Broken Arrow Aces, Broken Arrow, OK (0-2)
65t. Centex Babes, Temple, TX (0-2)
65t. East Cobb Bullets, Roswell, GA (1-2)
65t. Haze, Landsdale, PA (0-2)
65t. Lookouts, Overland Park, KS (0-2)
65t. Lucky Ladies, Bristol, PA (0-2)
65t. Metro Blues, Collinsville, OK (0-2)
65t. Oak Park Windmills Blues, Bartlett, IL (0-2)
65t. Oak Park Windmills Red, Oak Park, IL (1-2)
65t. Oklahoma Lil’ Saints, Edmond, OK (0-2)
65t. Pegasus, Glenmore, PA (0-2)
65t. Quick Silver, Paris, TX (0-2)
65t. Rage, Garland, TX (0-2)
65t. Roseville Heat, Lincoln, CA (0-2)
65t. Shamrocks-Brackin, Fairfax, VA (0-2)
65t. Sizzle Blue, Omaha, NE (0-2)
65t. Spokane Storm, Spokane, WA (0-2)
65t. St. Louis Sluggers – Lommel, Wildwood, MO (0-2)
65t. Tartan Titans, Oakdale, MN (1-2)
65t. Texans, Plano, TX (0-2)
65t. Texas Spirit, Oak Leaf, TX (0-2)
65t. Wildcats, Berryton, KS (1-2)

1980 ASA 18-Under Girls Fast Pitch Nationals

1980 held at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 7-10.


Champion: Nor Cal Tremors, Fairfield, California (57-9)
Runner Up: Orcutt Express, Santa Maria, California (39-5)


Lisa Martinez ripped a pair of triples and flipped a one-hitter to power Nor Cal to a 3-0 win over the Orcutt Express in the all-California championship of the national girls 18-under fastpitch softball tournament Sunday.

Martinez lined the first pitch of the title game into right-center field and later scored on a wild pitch with what proved to be the winning run. Her triple and a single by Robin Steman completed the scoring in the third inning.

But it was her pitching which excited a crowd of more than 4,000 fans.

Earlier in the day she stopped the Express 2-1 to move the Fairfield, Calif., team into the finals without a loss. Nor Cal responded to win the title and complete the season 57-9.

“I wasn’t tired,” Martinez said. “I am used to pitching a lot of games. I was hyped up for this one. I didn’t throw as well as I could have, but I threw decent.” She allowed only a single to Diane Dyckma with two out in the seventh inning. Martinez fanned four batters, including Tracy Compton for the final out.

She said her best game was a Saturday win over Memphis.

“The tougher the competition the better I get into it,” Martinez said.

In addition to a pair of one-hitters, Martinez was the batting star for the champions. “I’ve think maybe this is the best hitting I’ve done in awhile. Usually if I hit better, I pitch better.”

In this tournament, she did both well. She hit five triples and a double among her 13 hits.

Martinez wasn’t alone with solid efforts in the national tournament. One of the finest defensive jobs was that done by first baseman Jeannette Beemer, whose long stretches were responsible for outs which otherwise might have been base hits.

“It’s just natural. I want her out and that’s the easiest way to do it,” Beemer said. Shorter than most of the first basemen in the tournament, she said “that’s how I make up for it, with the long stretch.”

Beemer completed her first year at first base; Before the move, she played second base in high school.

A team molded by coach Ron Clarke, it was formed in June. Without a regular season sponsor, Clarke said the girls raised the nearly $5,000 it took to bring them to Sioux Falls for the national tournament.

“I didn’t think we’d be quite as good as this because I didn’t know if our pitching would that good. But I felt we’d be in the top three,” Clarke said. His team outscored its opposition in this tournament 31-1.

All but pitchers Martinez and Lisa Ishikawa and Steman, the Tremors were made of players from Fairfield. All but three played for Clarke two years ago in an open women’s league when the team was second in California.

“It was a dream to get here. Now it’s a fantasy,” Beemer said.

In the first Nor Cal win over Orcutt, Martinez hit a double and Beemer two singles. Beemer’s second single, a sacrifice and Tawny Kanae’s single produced the winning run.

DeeDee Spencer hit a pair of singles for Orcutt, which came back to stop Memphis 3-1 and gain the finals. A three-run first-inning rally was aided by a walk, a hit batter and two errors by the normally error-free World News defense. Compton had the lone hit of the inning.

Melissa Jansen tripled for Memphis, which had to beat Rock Island, Ill., 3-0 to grab third place in the tournament. Lisa Worman hit a single and triple and Angie Bodiford a triple for Memphis while Pam McMurray and Ann Patting hit doubles for Rock Island.

Sunday’s play began with the completion of Saturday’s final round, which was rained out around 1 a.m. Sunday. In that final game, Rock Island, the 1978 national champion, beat Standard Optical of Salt Lake City 6-2 behind a four-run second inning highlighted by five walks, a fielder’s choice and a single.

Suzie Olsen hit two singles and a double for Salt Lake City.

Orcutt finished the season at 39-5, Memphis’ World News 58-7 and fourth place Rock Island Rookies 69-14.


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Nor Cal Tremors, Fairfield, CA (6-0)
2. Orcutt Express, Santa Maria, CA (5-2)
3. World News of Memphis, Memphis, TN (5-2)
4. Rock Island Rookies, Rock Island, IL (5-2)
5t. Battle Creek, St. Paul, MN (4-2)
5t. Standard Optical, Salt Lake City, UT (3-2)
7t. St. Louis Roadrunners, Manchester, MO (3-2)
7t. Dallas Metro Scorpions, Dallas, TX (3-2)
9t. Blazers, Bartlesville, OK (3-2)
9t. Gulls, Salt Lake City, UT (3-2)
9t. Oregon City Reds, Oregon City, OR (3-2)
9t. Valentino’s, Overland Park, KS (3-2)
13t. Phoenix Angels, Phoenix, AZ (2-2)
13t. Sam’s Tire Service, Olympia, WA (2-2)
13t. Bayou Babes, Alvin, TX (2-2)
13t. Oklahoma City Jets, Oklahoma City, OK (2-2)
17t. Southern Tier Royals, Binghamton, NY (1-2)
17t. H&L Athletics, Lynwood, WA (1-2)
17t. San Antonio Roses, San Antonio, TX (1-2)
17t. Manchester Bulldogs, Akron, OH (1-2)
17t. Spring Branch Vikings, Houston, TX (1-2)
17t. Firestix, Arvada, CO (1-2)
17t. Pasadena Mustangs, Pasadena, TX (1-2)
17t. Middle Valley Hustlers, Hixson, TN (1-2)
25t. Blue Flames, CC Hills, IL (0-2)
25t. Fitzgerald Bombers, St. Louis, MO (0-2)
25t. Pittsfield Merchants, Pittsfield, MA (0-2)
25t. Chelsea Bulldogs, Chelsea, MI (0-2)
25t. Rosedale, Baltimore, MD (0-2)
25t. Lincoln Swingers, Lincoln, NE (0-2)
25t. Pepsi Amazons, Topeka, KS (0-2)
25t. Soukup Sluggers, Sioux Falls, SD (0-2)

1979 ASA Girls 18-Under Fast Pitch Nationals

1979 held at Southwest Park in Irving, Texas on August 8-12.


Champion: Oklahoma City Jets, Oklahoma City
Runner Up: Spring Branch Aces, Spring Branch, Texas


Shortstop Pam Podolec lined a single to left with two outs in the seventh inning to drive in the winning run from second base to give the Oklahoma City Jets a 2-1 win over the Spring Branch Aces and the ASA Girls’ 16-18 National Fast Pitch crown Sunday at Southwest Park.

Podolec did her job well as she lined a 2-2 ,pitch from Michelle Ash into left-center field, scoring Liz Phillips from second base with the go-ahead run.

Phillips started the Jets final inning rally with a single after Patty Helton and Rhonda Clark had grounded out. Patti Holthaus kept the rally alive with a chopper over third to move Phillips to second and set the stage for Podolec’s heroics which gave the Jets a 2-1 lead.

The Aces, however, managed to get out of the inning without any more damage when catcher Jan Lewis caught Holthaus off second after she had rounded the bag on the single.

Clark then took matters into her own hands in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the side to seal the championship for the Oklahoma City club.

Clark, who struck out 13 and picked up her fifth win of the tournament, got off to a rocky start against the Aces in the first inning as designated hitter Christie Rees drilled her third offering of the game into left field for a double.

Jan Lewis then tried to sacrifice Rees to third, but Clark came off the mound and threw Rees out. However, Julie Logan laced a double down the leftfield line to score Lewis with the tying run.

She (Clark) was cold in the first inning. There wasn’t any way for her to warm up before the game with all the introductions they had,” Jet Coach Wyndell Blakemore said. “She sat for 15 minutes and then was the leadoff hitter in the first inning. She couldn’t get warm so her rise ball wasn’t jumping.

“They don’t hit her when her rise ball is jumping.”

And, the Aces did not. Clark sent the Texas club down in order in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings, struck out the side in the second and seventh and surrendered a meaningless single to Logan in the sixth with two outs.

Despite the outstanding performance by Clark, the Jets could not break the game open even though they collected 10 hits.


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Oklahoma City Jets, Oklahoma City, OK
2. Spring Branch Aces, Spring Branch, TX
3. Sepulveda Raiders, Sepulveda, CA (5-2)
4. Oklahoma City Rebels, Oklahoma City, OK
5t. Karmelkorn, Peoria, IL
5t. Llamas Construction, Abilene, KS
7t. Eugene Chics, Eugene, OR
7t.
9t.
9t.
9t.
9t.
13t.
13t.
13t.
13t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
25t.
25t.
25t.

1978 ASA 18-Under Girls Fast Pitch Nationals

1978 held at Alva Jo Fischer Sports Complex in San Antonio, Texas.


Champion: Rock Island Rookies, Rock Island, IL
Runner Up: San Antonio Bluejays, San Antonio, Texas


Rock Island Rookies won the American Softball Association national championship Sunday night, defeating the San Antonio Blue Jays, 7-1 at Alva Jo Fischer Complex.

Entering Sunday’s play with one loss, Rock Island had to defeat the Blue Jays twice to win the championship.

Backed by the pitching of Jackie Weigand, Rock Island did just that, nipping the Jays 4-2 late Sunday afternoon and then taking the championship Sunday night.

A triple by Jolee Lesiman with one out in the third inning and a following single by catcher Penny Draper supplied all the runs Weigand needed to give Rock Island the championship.

The Blue Jays advanced on the strong arm of Cindy Maddox who won four games in the tournament, all complete games.


  • Outstanding Pitcher: Jackie Wiegand, Rock Island Rookies

OUTSTANDING PLAYERS

Nancy Roth, Rock Island Rookies
Kathy Radloff, Rock Island Rookies
Jackie Weigand, Rock Island Rookies
Penny Draper, Rock Island Rookies


FINAL STANDINGS (1st through 17th are right, after that I am not sure)

1. Rock Island Rookies, Rock Island, IL (6-1)
2. San Antonio Blue Jays, San Antonio, TX (4-2)
3. Orlando Junior Rebels, Orlando, FL (4-2)
4. Houston Aces, Houston, TX (5-2)
5t. Lake Jackson, Lake Jackson, TX (2-2)
5t. Hank’s Painting, Binghamton, NY (3-2)
7t. Raspanti Ford, Langhorne, PA (3-2)
7t. Charolais Queens, McPherson, KS (2-2)
9t. Tollefson Royals, Tollefson, AZ (2-2)
9t. Lincoln Swingers, Lincoln, NE (1-2)
9t. Metz Lumber, Arvada, CO (2-2)
9t. Sepulveda Rebels, Sepulveda, CA (2-2)
13t. Chelsea, Chelsea, MI (1-2)
13t. Belvedere Jets, Atlanta, GA (1-2)
13t. Burger King Queens, Tecumseh, KS (1-2)
13t. Sid’s Forces, Eugene, OR (0-2)
17t. Oklahoma City Rebels, Oklahoma City, OK (0-2)
17t. Agawam Lionettes, Agawam, MA (0-2)
17t. Manchester, Manchester, OH (0-2)
17t. Sweet Peas, Sioux Falls, SD (0-2)

1977 ASA 18-Under Girls Fast Pitch Nationals

1977 held at MacArthur Park and First Ward Park, in Binghamton, New York on August 11-15.


Champion: Raiders, Sepulveda, California (35-0)
Runner Up: Oklahoma City Jets, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma


The Sepulveda, Calif., Raiders won their second straight Amateur Softball Association National Senior Girls Fast-pitch championship Monday, defeating the Oklahoma City Rebels 2-1 in the final.

Like last year, the Raiders went unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament.

In the final game, the Raiders broke a 1-1 tie on three straight singles in the bottom of the fourth inning. Shortstop Nicki Clark, pinch-hitter Lisa Feldman, and second-baseman Karen Mobilia supplied the hits. The runs scored when the third single was bobbled by the Rebels leftfielder.

Winning pitcher Jan Jeffers tossed a six-hitter. Neither Jeffers, who won three games, including one shutout, nor Pam Titchener, who won four and had two shutouts, allowed an earned run in the tournament.

Sepulveda, with a record of 35 victories and no losses this season, defeated Klute, Tex., 12-1, Fort Worth, Tex., 11-4, Vienna, Ga., 4-3 in eight innings, McPherson, Kan., 9-0, Irving, Tex., 12-0 and Oklahoma City, 2-0, to reach the final of the 48- team tournament.

Centerfielder Terri Young led the Raiders in hitting, with a tournament batting average at .440. But the tournament batting title went to Terri Bullock of the 4th-place Lincoln, Neb., Odyssey team, who hit .550.

The Charolais Queens of McPherson, Kan., second last year, finished third.


  • Batting Champion: Terri Bullock, Lincoln Odyssey – .550

FINAL STANDINGS (1st through 17th are right, after that I am not sure)

1. Raiders, Sepulveda, CA (6-0)
2. Oklahoma City Rebels, Oklahoma City, OK (5-2)
3. Charolais Queens, McPherson, KS (7-2)
4. Lincoln Odyssey, Lincoln, NE (6-2)
5t. Irving Comanches, Irving, TX (3-2)
5t. Memphis Blues, Memphis , TN (4-2)
7t. Olympia Leal’s Nursery, Olympia, WA (5-2)
7t. Maryville Banksters, Maryville, MO (3-2)
9t. Hank’s Painting, Binghamton, NY (3-2)
9t. St. Louis Fitzgeralds, St. Louis, MO (3-2)
9t. Fort Worth Blue Blazers, Fort Worth, TX (4-2)
9t. Vienna Shamrocks, Vienna, VA (3-2)
13t. San Antonio Blueiays, San Antonio, TX (2-2)
13t. Levittown Pick-Ups, Levittown, PA (3-2)
13t. Shawnee Mayor Realtors, Kansas City, MO (2-2)
13t. Eugene Chics, Eugene, OR (2-2)
17t. Des Moines Cardinals, Des Moines, IA (1-2)
17t. Tulsa East Central High Cardinals, Tulsa, OK (2-2)
17t. A.L. George, Binghamton, NY (3-2)
17t. Orlando Jr. Rebels, Orlando, FL (2-2)
17t. Washington NTRA-Sunnyland Blue, Loves Park, IL (1-2)
17t. Anniston Kilgore Tomboys, Anniston, AL (1-2)
17t. Brooklyn Our Lady of Grace, Brooklyn, NY (1-2)
17t. Granger Hafer’s, Granger, UT (2-2)
25t. Pittsburgh Golden Triangle, Pittsburgh, PA (1-2)
25t. Arvada Holliway Insurance, Arvada, CO (1-2)
25t. Rochester Baxters, Rochester, IN (1-2)
25t. Standard Optical, Salt Lake City, UT (1-2)
25t. Decatur Belvedere Jets, Atlanta, GA (1-2)
25t. Clute Eagle Raiders, Clute, TX (1-2)
25t. Chattanooga Speedline, Chattanooga, TN (1-2)
25t. East Spokane Saints, East Spokane, WA (1-2)
33t. Indianapolis Tabernacle Kittens, Indianapolis, IN (1-2)
33t. Omaha State Bank,  Omaha, NE (1-2)
33t. Sioux Falls Automatic Transmission, Sioux Falls, SD (0-2)
33t. Baton Rouge Tigers, Baton Rouge, LA (0-2)
33t. Bradenton Manatee County Sandspurs, Bradenton, FL (0-2)
33t. Chicopee Suburban Pacers, Chicopee, MA (0-2)
33t. Georgetown, Georgetown, SC (0-2)
33t. Greensburg Pizza, Greensburg, OH (0-2)
33t. Marlton, Marlton, NJ (0-2)
33t. Ponca City American Legion, Ponca City, OK (0-2)
33t. Roswell Hobson Garden, Roswell, NM (0-2)
33t. Spring Branch Aces, Houston, TX (0-2)
33t. Tacoma Polar Bears, Tacoma, WA (0-2)
33t. Waterford Gas House Gang, Waterford, MI (0-2)
33t. West Caldwell Rec, West Caldwell, NJ (0-2)


NOTES: Milford Nutmegs of Milford, Connecticut did not attend due to a serious car accident that injured the head coach and killed his wife.

1976 ASA 18-Under Girls Fast Pitch Nationals

1976 held at American Way Park in Memphis, Tennessee on August 5-8.


Champion: Raiders, Sepulveda, California (36-2)
Runner Up: Charolais Queens, McPherson, Kansas (35-3)


An apparent broken arm and a hit batter were the deciding factors in last night’s senior girls (16-18) national softball championship game as the Raiders of Sepulveda, Calif., scratched and clawed its way to a 6-3 victory over Charolais Queens of McPherson, Kan., at American Way Park.

The extra-inning, come-from-behind victory was especially sweet for the Raiders, who lost to Love Park, Ill., in the finals a year ago.

Charolais Queens jumped to a quick 2-0 lead , and was cruising along with a 3-1 margin when misfortune struck in the game of the day, while the Raiders were in their fifth inning. The Charolais Queens were playing their fourth game of the day, while the Raiders were in their second.

Raiders’s Shelley Bly reached first on an error. With one out, she took third when Charolais Queens pitcher, Susan Sundahl, stopped a line drive with her right arm. Miss Sundahl was taken to a local hospital with what officials thought was a fracture. Miss Bly then scored on Nickie Clark’s fielder’s choice to bring the Raiders within one, 3-2.

The Raiders pulled even in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, reliever Michelle Decker hit Lisa Feldman to force the tie.

The Charolais Queens had a chance to win the contest in the seventh when its first two batters singled. But the Raider’s bend-but-never-break defense squashed the rally.

The Raiders, which beat Charolais Queens last year in the semifinals, closed its season with a 36-2 mark while Charolais Queens dropped to 35-3.

Raiders’s sponsor is Memphian Tom Hartzog who has business connections in California.

Lincoln Odyssey, finished third in a field of 42 entries with Hale’s Angels, copping fourth.


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Raiders, Sepulveda, CA
2. McPherson, KS (5-2)
3. Lincoln Odyssey, Lincoln, NE
4. Hale’s Angels, Tulsa, OK
5t.
5t.
7t.
7t.
9t.
9t.
9t.
9t.
13t.
13t.
13t.
13t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
17t.
25t.
25t.
25t.
25t.
25t.
25t.
25t.
25t.
33t.
33t.
33t.
33t.
33t.
33t.
33t.
33t.
33t.
33t.

TEAMS: Trouble, Carlsbad, NM / Bionics, Bartlesville, OK / Middle Valley Tom Boys, Hixon, TN / Tom Boys, Anniston, AL / Raiders, Rockford, IL / Love Park Cougars, Love Park, IL / Tabernacle Kittens, Indianapolis, IN / Broome Dusterettes, Vestal, NY

1975 ASA 18-Under Girls Fast Pitch Nationals

1975 held at MacArthur Park, First Ward Park, and Floral Park in Binghamton, New York on August 7-10.


Champion: Loves Park Cougars, Loves Park, Illinois
Runner Up: Raiders, Sepulveda, California


The Loves Park Cougars defeated the Raiders of Sepulveda, Calif.. 9-4 here Sunday night to capture the Amateur Softball Association’s National junior girls (ages I6-18) fast-pitch softball championship.

The Cougars built a 4-0 lead, before the Raiders. The California state champion finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning of the championship game in the double elimination tournament.

Sandy Reed pitched and won her fourth tournament game, yielding 10 hits and four earned runs in the championship game. She did not strike out any batters, and she did not issue any walks.

The Cougars struck for three runs in the first inning and three more in the fourth to build an insurmountable 6-0 advantage.

In the first inning outburst, Luau Swanberg and Reed each singled, and moved up on a wild pitch. Swanberg then scored on an error on a grounder by Joan Meinert. Carey Sydow then singled, driving in Reed. Meinert then scored when Debbie Helgeson grounded to short, and the Raiders shortstop bobbled the

In the third inning, Reed drove a triple over the left-fielder’s head, driving in Gail Salley and Swanberg, who each had singled. Reed scored on an error.

Loves Park finished seventh in this tournament last year.


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Loves Park Cougars, Loves Park, IL (6-0)
2. Raiders, Sepulveda, CA (5-2)
3. McPherson, KS (6-2)
4. Houston, TX (5-2)
5t. Hale’s Angels, Tulsa, OK (3-2)
5t. Lincoln Odyssey, Lincoln, NE (3-2)
7t. Kelso, WA (3-2)
7t. Irving, TX (2-2)
9t. Omaha, NE (3-2)
9t. Overland Park, KS (3-2)
9t. Oklahoma City, OK (3-2)
9t. Clute, TX (3-2)
13t. Binghamton East, Binghamton, NY (1-2)
13t. Chattanooga Valley Eagles, Memphis, TN (1-2)
13t. Birmingham, AL (1-2)
13t. Ramsey, NJ (1-2)
17t. Vestal Vagabonds, Vestal, NY (0-2)
17t. Sunset, UT (0-2)
17t. Levittown, PA (0-2)
17t. Morton Lassies, Morton, IL (0-2)
17t. Chattanooga Raiders, Flintstone, GA (0-2)
17t. Manassas, VA (0-2)
17t. Rochester, IN (0-2)
17t. Duncan, OK (1-2)
25t. Huntsville, AL (0-2)
25t. Toledo, OH (0-2)
25t. West Springfield, MA (0-2)


Loves Park, IL players literally leap for joy, pitcher Sandy Reed pogo-sticking off the mound and firstsacker Joan Meinert raising her arms as the final out is made for the national girls softball championship before a crow of 3,500 that has little MacArthur Fields hemmed in on all sides by humanity.