Day 7: Game Details CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Game 9

Fullerton vs. Hawaii
Pitcher: Riley Narhworld

This was it.  This was what any fan could have asked for. This was the CHAMPIONSHIP game of the 2010 ASA Western National Tournament and our very own Fullerton Hills team would be a part of this spectacular event.  With an undefeated Hawaiian team to face, Fullerton Hills would have to beat them twice in order to take 1st place.  According to Fullerton Hill's season history, this was not an impossible task, reflecting on the 2010 State tournament.

The crowd was electric and both teams started off showing they were ready to play in the 1st inning.  Although no runs would score, both teams didn't hesitate to put any runners on base right away.  However the 2nd inning would be completely opposite for these teams, as the defenses shut them down.

Fullerton Hills  would remain quiet offensively in the top of the 3rd inning, but the bottom of the 3rd inning  was when Hawaii would wake up the score board.  It began with a 2 out walk which resulted in the runner stealing 2B. A base hit to LF would score the runner from 2B, and on an attempt to get the runner out at home, the base hit for Hawaii would turn into a double.  A base hit to LF would then score the second run of the inning for Hawaii, and the score would be 2-0 at the end of the 3rd inning.

The 4th inning also remained quiet for both teams, and in the bottom of the 5th inning Hawaii would add to their score making the game 3-0 in favor of Hawaii.

Fullerton Hills is a team that will refuse to quit at anytime and will fight to the bitter end.  And these girls did just that.  In the top of the 6th inning Taylor Browne lead-off with a double to RF.  This would be followed by Nina Melendez who would be hit by a pitch, then unfortunately called out for leaving the base early.  Alex Castillo would pick up Nina by doubling and scoring Taylor Browne from 2B, and the game was now 3-1, Hawaii.  However, Fullerton Hills was not done scoring yet.  Sarah Fajnor came up and doubled to LF, scoring Alex Castillo.  Fullerton Hills would shut down Hawaii's offense in the bottom of the 6th inning, and the game was now 3-2, Hawaii.

The top of the 7th inning had come and Hawaii was 3 outs away from becoming the 14&U Western National Champions, and Fullerton Hills was 1 run away from one more game with the Hawaiian team.  Unfortunately for Fullerton Hills, Hawaii would successfully make all 3 outs, crowning them the 2010 ASA 14&U Western National Champions, going undefeated in the tournament.  Final score: 3-2.

Day 7: Game Details (Escondido)

Game 8

Fullerton Hills vs. Escondido
Pitcher: Riley Narhwold

This game was the REAL semi-final game for Fullerton Hills, seeing as it was do or die with a tough Escondido team to face.  Fullerton Hills knew they were going to be a tough battle, because they had just come off of a win against Claremont to keep themselves alive in the tournament.

The game started off with Fullerton Hills taking the visiting role in the top of the 1st inning.  A lead-off double for Sydney Meyer would get things going to Fullerton Hills.  Taylor Browne would then come up with a double to LCF, as the girls let the ball drop and Sydney Meyer would advance to scoring position at 3B and Taylor Browne landing safely on 2B.  Nina Melendez would come up next for Fullerton Hills and hit a hard ground ball to SS which resulted in an error, scoring Sydney Meyer and Taylor Browne.  Fullerton would take the early lead at 2-0.  Escondido retaliated with a single to CF to lead off the team offensively in the bottom of the 1st inning.

The 2nd inning was quiet for both teams, as well as the top of the 3rd inning but only for Fullerton Hills.  Escondido started off the inning with a walk.  A bunt single on an error would advance the runner to 3B.   A double to CF would clear the bases and score 2 runs for Escondido, and the game was now tied.  However, Escondido was not done just yet.  On a steal attempt, Fullerton Hills catcher Savi Rojas would  catch the runner stealing to slow down the Escondido momentum.  An infield single for Escondido would score one more run, and they would now take the lead 4-2 going into the top of the 4th inning.

The top of the 4th inning turned out to be one of Fullerton Hill's biggest innings this entire tournament.  It started off with Riley Nahrwold and her lead-off single to CF and Haley Schulte would be put in the game as Riley's pinch runner.  Savi Rojas would then be hit by a pitch.  Up next was Sydney Meyer who would load the bases with a bunt single.  Taylor Browne came in and hit a sacrifice fly ball to LF to score Haley Schulte on the tag-up from 3B.  Nina Melendez came up next and hit a base-clearing double, scoring Sydney Meyer and Savi Rojas.  Sarah Fajnor was up to bat for Fullerton Hills next and singled to CF, scoring Nina Melendez from 2B.  Destiny Fernandez would then single to LF and hit Sarah Fajnor in from 2B.  Escondido was shut down in the bottom of the 4th inning, and the game was now 7-4 Fullerton Hills.

Fullerton would keep their run streak alive in the 5th and 6th innings as they continued to shut down Escondido.  In the top of the 5th inning, Savi Rojas would be walked to start off the inning and then Sydney Meyer would be safe on 1B on a fielder's choice.  With 1 out, Taylor Browne hit a double and would score Sydney Meyer making the game now 8-4.  In the top of the 6th inning, Alex Castillo would lead off the inning with a walk and Sarah Fajnor would follow with a single on an error by the SS.  Destiny Fernandez came up and did her job by advancing the runners on a ground ball.  Brooke Castillo came up and laid down a bunt that turned into a double and it would score Alex Castillo.  Savi Rojas would see the batters box for the 2nd time this inning and this time would single to RF to score Sarah Fajnor.

Fullerton Hills would shut out Escondido in the bottom of the 7th inning resulting in their 10-4 victory and a trip to the Championship game of the ASA Western National Tournament against Hawaii.

Photo Credit: Mr. and Mrs. Schulte

Day 7: Game Details (Hawaii)

Game 7: Fullerton Hills vs. Hawaii
Pitchers: Sam Wekall, Sarah Fajnor

Fullerton Hills and Hawaii both began this game as undefeated teams in the tournament.  This was the semi-final game for the winner's bracket of the tournament.  The loser of this game would have to play a game immediately afterwards, and face the winner of the loser's bracket game for the last semi-final game.  Notorious for playing as many games as possible, Fullerton Hills would find themselves in that exact situation today.

Fullerton Hills jumped of the Hawaiian team right away in the top of the 1st inning when Nina Melendez doubled to RCF, and would then advance on a pass ball to 3B.  With Nina Melendez now in definite scoring position, Alex Castillo would come up to bat and hit a hard ground ball the 3B.  The third baseman bobbled the ball and threw it to 1B.  The throw would go over the head of the first baseman and Nina Melendez would score from 1B.  The game was now 1-0, Fullerton Hills.  Hawaii wasn't going to give up that easily when they started off the bottom of the 1st inning with a 1 out walk.  Destiny Fernandez would make a sliding catch for 2 outs.  Things seemed to be going Fullerton Hills' way until Hawaii's power hitter came up.  After fouling over at least 10 pitches, she ropes the ball over the fence in LF for a 2 run, 2 out homerun.  The game was now 2-1, Hawaii.

The 2nd inning was uneventful offensively for both teams.  However, both teams and their spectators, got a scare as the Hawaiian second baseman was knocked down at 2B on a slide and would hit her head on the ground. The paramedics would come and take her to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

The top of the 3rd inning would see the bases loaded for Fullerton Hills with no outs.  However, they could not come across with a run.  Hawaii would initiate their big inning in bottom of the 3rd.  A lead-off walk was issued as the ball was thrown around on a mistaken strike out.  The next batter would come with with a single to LF, followed by a single to CF, which would score 2 runs.  A pass ball would advance the runner on 1B.  A pitching change would be made for Fullerton Hills, as Sarah Fajnor took the mound. A single to LF would score another run for Hawaii and Fullerton Hills would then proceed to get themselves out of the inning. The score was now 5-1, Hawaii.

The top of the 4th inning was quiet for Fullerton Hills, but the bottom of the 4th inning gave Hawaii another opportunity to score one more run which they jumped on as soon as possible.  The game was now 6-1, Hawaii.

It was not in Fullerton Hills' nature to give up under any circumstances.  After a talk with the coaches, and undying support from the fans, the girls were ready to come back with their bats in the top of the 5th inning.  The inning started off with a single to LCF by Taylor Browne.  Fullerton felt the momentum, but things went in the opposite direction as a ground ball up the middle lead to an unassisted double play for Hawaii leaving Fullerton with 2 outs.  Alex Castillo would then come up Fullerton Hills with a 2 out single to LF to keep the inning going.  Next was Sarah Fajnor who hit a line drive the the SS, who dropped the ball.  Alex Castillo would be safe at 2B and Sarah Fajnor safe at 1B.  Destiny Fernandez would load the bases with a ground ball to SS.  Riley Narhwold came up to bat for Fullerton Hills next and ripped a single into CF, scoring Alex Castillo and Sarah Fajnor.   The game was now 6-3, Hawaii, at the end of the inning and Fullerton Hills was closing in.  Fullerton Hills would shut down Hawaii in the bottom of the 5th inning.

Fullerton Hills wasn't done in the top of the 6th inning when Taylor Browne would walk and steal 2B on a pass ball.  Nina Melendez came up with a double to RF, scoring Taylor Browne. The game was now 6-4 Hawaii.  Fullerton Hills came onto the field and shut down Hawaii again in the top of the 6th inning.

Hawaii would now be 3 outs away from going to the Championship game.  Fullerton didn't quit in the top of the 7th inning but couldn't muster up enough hits to score any more runs. Hawaii would advance to the Championship game as Fullerton Hills would prepare for another game right away against Escondido.

Day 7: Brief Update (Championship Game)

Hawaii 3, Fullerton Hills 2
Fullerton takes 2nd place in Nationals tournament.
Check back for game details tomorrow. On the road again!

Day 7: Brief Update (Escondido)

So we've done it again! Off the championship game against Hawaii. The final score of the Escondido game was 10-4, Fullerton Hills.

Since Hawaii is undefeated, the Fullerton Hills team will have to defeat Hawaii twice in a row to win the entire thing. This is a very similar situation to a few weeks ago when Fullerton defeated Santee twice in a row to win the State title. Wishing our girls the very best of luck! Check back for updates later.

Day 7: Brief Update (Hawaii)

Game 7 vs. Hawaii
Hawaii 6, Fullerton 4

Next game in minutes vs. Escondido for the Championship game.

Day 6: Game Details (Claremont)

Game 6: Fullerton Hills vs. Claremont
Pitcher: Riley Nahrwold

The last time Fullerton Hills had faced Claremont was in the State Tournament with the victory to Fullerton Hills. Claremont came out looking for revenge this time around, and proved that they were ready to play in the top of the 1st inning when they scored on a base hit to CF.

Fullerton didn't hesitate to answer back in the top of the 2nd inning when Sarah Fajnor was safe on 1B and an error by the Claremont second baseman.  Destiny Fernandez laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Sarah Fajnor to 2B.  Another sacrifice bunt by Riley Nahrwold would advance Sarah Fajnor to 3B, leaving her in perfect scoring position for Savi Rojas who would come up and rip a base hit up the middle, to score Sarah Fajnor. The game was now tied 1-1, and Fullerton Hills would respond with defense shutting Claremont down in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Fullerton Hills wasn't done putting runs on the board when the top of the 3rd inning came around.  Sydney Meyer would start the inning off by putting the ball in play and reaching 1B on an error by the SS.  Taylor Browne would single past 3B, advancing the runner.  Up came Nina Melendez with a base clearing triple, scoring Sydney Meyer and Taylor Browne.  Alex Castillo comes up with a single and an error by the SS would score Nina Melendez from 3B.  The game was now 4-1, Fullerton Hills. Fullerton Hills came and shut down Claremont in the bottom of the 3rd inning and were ready to score some more runs next inning.
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The top of the 4th inning provided yet another run for Fullerton Hills.  Savi Rojas started off the inning with a single to RF, and steals 2B on the next batter. Sydney Meyer would then come up and rip a double into LF, scoring Savi Rojas. The bottom of the 4th inning proved that Fullerton Hills loves to make things interesting when Claremont would reach base on errors, hits, and a walk.  Coming out of the 4th inning, the game would remained tied at 5-5 for the next 5 innings. Which means, yes, Fullerton Hills would go into yet ANOTHER international tie breaker.

No team would score, but came awfully close, in the 8th and 9th innings. Needless to say, these were nail biting innings. Innings that had the girls screaming at the top of their lungs and sighing with relief. Not to mention the fans who never stopped cheering, while pacing back and forth. 

It was the 10th inning that gave Fullerton Hills the drive and desire to get the go ahead run in.  Sydney Meyer started on 2B for Fullerton Hills.  Taylor Browne would come up with a sacrifice bunt and Sydney Meyer would advance to 3B.  Nina Melendez came up to bat and singled to RF, which would score Sydney Meyer.  The game was now 6-5, in favor of Fullerton Hills. They now had to hold Claremont in the bottom of the 10th inning. The first out came by a foul ball catch from Alex Castillo on the 1B side. The 2nd out came by a fly ball to pitcher, Riley Nahrwold.  the Claremont runner remained on 2B as the next batter was walked. A moment of tension arose for Fullerton Hills, but Riley Nahrwold came through with a game ending strikeout and Fullerton would win 6-5.

Photo Credit: Mr. Schulte

TOMORROW:

Game 7, 9:00am vs Hawaii SEMI-FINALS.

Check back for brief updates.