Pitchers' Showdown
Congratulations to the Ilderton Mites on another golden season!
2014 Community Softball League Champs!
After winning the mid-season league tournament, we finished league play undefeated with a 14-0 record. Our bats have proved mighty and our pitching, solid; we scored a total of 270 runs scored and surrendered only 80 runs against all year. In the league championship tournament, we faced stiff competition but brought home the gold. Of the five games we played, three of them were against our number one rivals, Byron #1. We managed to squeak out the first game in the pouring rain on Saturday afternoon, a come from behind 2-1 win by shutting them down in the bottom of their last inning. That win put us into the championship game on Sunday morning. It was not a surprise to learn that we would end up playing Byron #1 again in the final. After a forty minute delay in starting the final game (umpire’s scheduling conflict), a pumped up Byron #1 was all ready to play. It turned out to be a pitcher’s showdown. Ilderton pitched to 17 batters and struck out 14; Byron #1 pitched to 18 and struck out 11. In the bottom of the final inning, the home team, Byron #1, walked off scoring the game’s only run on a single. Final score 1-0, Byron, which was very impressive – one run baseball games are a rarity. It just goes to show how important ONE run can be. But the tournament was double-knockout, so Ilderton was not out yet. We were forced to play the dreaded ‘IF NECESSARY’ game – Byron #1 had to beat us twice. So, into the second game we went, but this time we won the coin toss and were the home team (always a good omen). This game was different right from the first pitch as both teams started hitting right away. A three-run homerun in the first inning put us up 3-1. Still, like the 1-0 game, this final game was another pitching clinic. Out of 20 Ilderton batters to come to the plate, Byron #1 struck out 11. Byron #1 brought 21 to the plate and we stuck out 12. We struck out the side in the fifth inning to finish the game and the tournament. Final score: 4-2 Ilderton. The victory was sweet and our girls earned it. The game could have gone either way. Good thing we like to practice.
Congratulations Girls!!! You deserved it!!!