LOVELAND, Colo. – The Twisters 14-and-under softball team went 3-2 at the Mountain States Championship Tournament over the weekend in Loveland, falling in the title games to the Lakewood Tigers, ending the tournament second.
Twisters 6, Xplosion 2
Without pool play action, the Twisters kicked off the weekend after an opening round bye against the Northern Colorado Xplosion from Windsor, Colo. The Twisters put together three runs in the first inning, before tacking on another two in the second. Northern Colorado notched two runs in the third, but an insurance run in the third by the Twisters gave the team the 6-2 win.
A.J. West had the hot bat for the Twisters, recording two of the team’s eight hits. Paityn Homan had two RBIs, while Brady Laucomer had a double. Calysta Trevino scored twice without a hit, reaching base via two walks.
Trevino got the win in the pitcher’s circle after her return after not pitching for a bit due to injury. She pitched two innings, allowing two hits and two runs, only one of which was earned, while notching two strikeouts and four walks. Fox came in for the save, pitching an inning, allowing no hits and recording a strikeout and a walk.
Twisters 6, Havoc 4
Moving to the next round of the winner’s bracket, the Twisters took on Havoc, beating them 6-4 due to big numbers in the first two innings. The Twisters plated three runs in each of the first two innings to go up 6-0 on the Havoc. In the top of the third, Havoc plated three runs of its own to cut into the lead, but only one additional run in the fourth could not make up the difference, giving the Twisters the win.
Laucomer had a stellar day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double. She scored two runs in the win. Brylee Dean was the other Twisters with multiple hits, finishing with two, along with two scored runs. West had two RBI, while Trevino knocked a double.
Fox toed the rubber all four innings for the Twisters, allowing 10 hits and four runs, only three of which were earned. She finished the game with no walks, while tallying three strikeouts.
Twisters 7, ProSwing Blue 4
The Twisters needed a huge third inning to snag the win over ProSwing Blue. After the first frame, the Twisters were down 2-1, but five runs in the third game the team a 6-2 advantage. Another run by the Twisters in the fifth gave them a 7-2 lead in the fifth. Two runs in the bottom of the frame was not enough to make any difference.
Dean, Trevino and West all had two hits on the day, with West accounting for a double and Trevino tallying a triple. Trevino also had two RBIs. Emily McGaugh touched home plate twice for the Twisters, leading the team in scores.
Trevino started the game on the mound for the Twisters, pitching three innings, allowing four hits, two runs, one of which was earned, and recording a strikeout. Fox came on in relief for the final two innings, allowing two hits, two runs, one of which was earned, and two walks.
Tigers 10, Twisters 4
After the win over ProSwing Blue, the Twisters advanced to the championship game against the Lakewood Tigers, who battled through the lower bracket. Both teams plated three runs in the first inning, before the Twisters tacked on another run in the second to go up 4-3. The Tigers found their footing and scored two runs in the third and another five in the fourth to seal the win.
The Twisters were limited to three hits at the plate, with Fox, Dean and HeLena McGaugh each recording one. Dean knocked a triple in the loss.
At the rubber, Fox started the game, pitching 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on 14 hits. Dean came in for the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and two walks to close out the game.
Tigers 10, Twisters 0
Because the tournament was double-elimination, the Twisters got another crack at the Tigers, with the winner of the second matchup earning the championship. After two scoreless innings, the Twisters were held to no runs again in the third, while Lakewood exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the third, ending the game.
Laucomer recorded the only hit for the Twisters, as well as a stolen base in the team’s fourth game of the day.
Dean kicked off the game on the mound, pitching 2 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and four runs, only one of which was earned. She notched two strikeouts and four walks in the game. Trevino and Fox allowed three hits apiece, and six total runs, but only two of which were earned.
The loss ended the long day for the Twisters, putting them second in the tournament. They now sit at 40-4 on the year and return to action this weekend in Hastings, Neb.
