10/30/2024
The Prospects wrapped up the Fall 2024 season with a 13-2 record, a gold medal and a silver finalist ring! These talented ladies put in serious work and laid a great foundation to build on in the Spring of 2025. This was this most fun coaching I've ever had and can't wait to get back on the diamond in the Spring!
MHK Optimist Prospects Fastpitch 14U go 6-1; Take 2nd at USSSA Stand Up 2 Cancer Pink Out Tournament (As published in The Mercury 10/26/24; not published online)
The Manhattan Optimist MHK Prospects 14U went 4-0 in pool play on Saturday to earn a berth in the Gold Bracket on Sunday in Lee’s Summit at Legacy Sports Complex. The Prospects breezed through the quarter and semifinals by a combined score of 24-2 to bring the win streak to 6. However, in the championship game, the offense sputtered after gaining an early lead and the defense struggled late as they fell to Valkyrie Duran 14U (13-1) by a score of 7-2 to earn 2nd place of 16 teams and bring home silver rings.
Izabel Nelson led the offense with two hits and one batted in, while Raegan Berger added a hit and an RBI to give the Prospects a 2-1 lead through three innings. The Prospects had early opportunities with several others in scoring position but were unable to cash in and twice ended innings on the base paths. The #1 USSSA 14B state ranked Valkyrie ignited in the fourth as they roped four hits, and the normally solid Prospects defense committed errors on consecutive plays as the Valkyrie scored the final 6 runs of the contest in that inning. Berger pitched very well but took the tough loss for the Prospects in the circle going four innings allowing 7 hits, 7 runs (2 earned) and no walks.
The Prospects defeated Advanced Fastpitch Academy 14U (12-6-1) by a score of 11-1 in the gold bracket semifinals, as they erupted for 9 runs in the top of the first inning. Allison Lyman led the offensive attack with two hits and three RBI. Sydney Ekstrum added two hits and two RBI, Nyah Barta and Berger each had two hits and an RBI, and Harper Befort contributed an RBI base hit. The Prospects defense played an errorless game that included a 6-4-3 Barta to Aslyn Foveaux to Ekstrum double play to end the first inning. Nelson picked up the victory in the circle, going three innings and allowing just two hits and one earned run. Berger provided a scoreless inning of relief.
In the gold quarterfinals, the Prospects blew out Next Level Barajas 14U (6-4) by a final of 13-1. The offense was led by Berger with two hits and three batted in, while Lyman and Ekstrum provided two hits and an RBI each. Olivia Enoch roped an RBI single, and Nelson, Befort, Hayden Matzke and Foveaux each drove in a run. Sadie Wright and Teske Nelson each picked up a hit. Izabel Nelson earned the win going two innings in the run rule shortened game allowing no runs on two hits. Lyman pitched an inning of relief, allowing one run on one hit.
The Prospects opened pool the day prior with a 3-2 victory over Gold Glove Midwest 14U (5-8). The Prospects bats were not awake in the first contest of the weekend, as they produced just two hits – one by Berger that drove in a run, and one by Befort that drove in two runs as the Prospects held on for the tight victory. Nelson started in the circle, going four innings and allowing just two hits, and one run while striking out six and walking four. The Prospects escaped a bases-loaded, no out jam in the bottom of the third after Nelson fanned a batter, got a pop up, and struck out another to end the threat. Berger pitched an inning of relief, allowing one run, and one hit.
The Prospects defeated Hit City (10-4) of Atlantic, IA by a score of 8-2. Hit City entered the contest ranked 20th nationally in USSSA 13B power rankings. Barta delivered three hits, and Berger and Izabel Nelson each added two hits. Foveaux and Enoch each drove in two runs, with Foveaux’s coming on a double and a sac fly, and Enoch’s on a base hit and an RBI sac bunt. Befort drove in one with one hit, and Matzke also plated a run on perfectly executed sac bunt. Teske Nelson and Lyman added a hit each. Berger pitched a complete game gem, with 6 innings of two hit, two earned run ball with two strikeouts and three walks in the win.
The offense was somewhat quiet in the third pool game, but the Prospects still emerged with a win over the Overland Park Angels 14U (7-10) by a score of 4-1. Matzke provided the clutch hit, lining a two-run single to left. Berger provided an RBI single, and Barta and Izabel Nelson added a hit each. Lyman picked up the win in the circle with two scoreless, hitless innings. Matke provided an inning of relief and allowed one run, and Izabel Nelson earned a save by striking out three in the final inning.
The Prospects closed out pool play Saturday with a 5-3 win over the Mud Turtles 14U (14-4) of Fort Scott. The Mud Turtles jumped up 2-0 in the first frame. In the second, Matzke executed a sac bunt to cut the Mud Turtle lead in half, scoring Lyman. Later in the inning, Teske Nelson’s great base running allowed Ekstrum to score from third base in a first and third situation to tie the game. The game was knotted 2-2 in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded when Foveaux beat a ground ball to shortstop out at first base to score a run, but two more Prospect runners scored with the throw got away from the first baseman to make it 5-2. The Mud Turtles threatened in the fourth with the first two reaching base, but Berger struck out the next two and induced a game ending groundout to herself to earn the win. Nelson started the game in the circle and went 1.2 innings allowing just one hit and no earned runs.
The Manhattan Optimist MHK Prospects 14U finished the Fall 2024 season 13-2 and ranked 7th in the USSSA KS 14B state power rankings in their first action together and will pick back up in the Spring of 2025. They are coached by Rich Foveaux, Mike Nelson, and Caleb Enoch.
