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.