06/02/2026
๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฃ
Honestly, it's pretty wild that we got this tournament in at all.
After the amount of rain we received throughout the weekโand again Friday nightโI wasn't sure we'd throw a single pitch all weekend. Instead, we got what felt like a bonus weekend of softball.
The format was a 2-game pool play followed by a double-elimination bracket, and we opened with yet another matchup against Oconee Aces. As expected, it was another tight battle. Andrea and G combined for a one-hitter over five innings, allowing just one run. Lilly and Cali helped generate the offense, and Yana delivered the clutch game-winning RBI late as we picked up the win.
Pool Game #2 brought a matchup with EC Edge 2032, a very talented 11U squad. Amelia gave us four strong innings in the circle before Andrea came on to close it out. Runs were hard to come by for both teams in a true pitchers' duel that ended in a 2-2 tie.
A 1-0-1 pool play record earned us the #2 seed in our pool and a first-round matchup with GA Impact Cantrell 2032.
Unfortunately, that game got off to about the worst start imaginable. A routine ground ball turned into a sequence of miscues that seemed to never end, leading to four early runs and setting the tone for the game. Despite solid work in the circle from G and Andrea, we couldn't overcome the early deficit and outstanding pitching on their side, falling 4-0.
Sunday morning brought another strong 11U opponent in West Cobb Crush 2014. Amelia was outstanding, tossing a five-inning shutout while allowing just three hits and no walks. The offense jumped on opportunities early, collected some big hits, and backed up the pitching effort with a 3-0 win.
Next up was Oconee Diamonds. Andrea was terrific, working six innings without issuing a walk. The offense finally started showing signs of life, collecting nine hits. Giuls recorded a multi-hit game while Raina, Cali, MJ, and Leila all delivered extra-base hits in a 6-2 victory.
The next challenge was East Cobb Edge 2013. Amelia stepped back into the circle and gave us four more quality innings, keeping their offense in check long enough for Cali to take over. Cali launched a huge three-run inside-the-park home run and helped power us to another 6-2 win. Cali is simply a fun kid to watch play this game.
That set up a rematch with GA Impact Cantrell.
And somehow, despite our best efforts, we spotted them four first-inning runs again.
To the girls' credit, they never quit. We battled back, tied the game, and G came in to help quiet their offense. Cali delivered once again with yet another inside-the-park home run, and suddenly we found ourselves leading 7-4.
Then softball happened.
Cantrell fought back to tie it at 7-7 and send the game to the International Tie Breaker. What happened over the next 20 minutes wasn't particularly enjoyable from our side, but credit to themโthey strung together quality at-bats, the hits kept coming, and they capitalized on every opportunity. We scratched back late but couldn't complete the comeback, ending our weekend run.
๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น๐น, ๐ฎ ๐ฐ-๐ฎ-๐ญ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐๐ป'๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป'๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐? Our pitching staff was fantastic all weekend. Amelia, Andrea, and G gave us a chance every time they stepped in the circle. Andrea spun 14.1 innings with issuing only 3 walks. Amelia 13 innings - 1.38 ERA. G coming in and pitching in some tight spots and keeping offenses in check.
The offense also showed signs of waking back up after a bit of a lull. Giuls, Cali, MJ, and Yana all had big weekends at the plate, with Cali driving in an incredible 9 RBIs on the weekend.
Defensively, we played some really good softball. Were there a few plays we'd like back? Absolutely. But we're not chasing perfectionโwe're chasing effort, ex*****on, and growth. The effort was there all weekend.
๐๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐๐ป ๐๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ด๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป.
Now it's time to turn the page.
๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ผ๐ปship.
