By By Zach Brooks, Sports Writer
The Strike Force 14 and under girls tournament team hit the field Friday night to take on the Bishop Thrillers out of West Mobile in their first game of the tournament.
The Thrillers took an early 2-0 lead before Strike Force rallied for 3 runs in their last at bat to clinch the victory 3-2.
Britney Syria, Heather Mura, and Stacey Gibbs crossed the plate, while Meagan Jackson, Heather Mura, and Lori Bonds collected 1 hit apiece.
Rayleen Miller recorded 2 RBI's while Cassie Godwin went the distance on the mound giving up 2 runs, 4 hits, and 2 walks while striking out 2.
Strike Force then blasted the Pensacola Heat 10-0 in their second game of the tournament.
Offensively they were led by Britney Syria with 2 hits and 2 runs, Cassie Godwin with 1 hit and 2 runs, Heather Mura with 1 hit and 2 runs, and Kris Culliver with 1 hit and 1 run.
Meagan Jackson, Stacey Gibbs, and Rayleen Miller each crossed the plate once to round out the scoring for Atmore's Strike Force.
Cassie Godwin would earn her second win of the tournament by tossing a 1-hit shutout. She gave up 1 base on balls while fanning one. The Strike Force defense committed no errors.
The rain came late Saturday afternoon and forced the tournament directors to switch from a double elimination tournament to a single elimination.
With 3 teams remaining in the tourney on Sunday, this would work against Strike Force.
The Strike Force would play the Escambia Thrillers for thier next game, in what would probably be the best game of the tournament.
The Thrillers began the game in good shape as they quickly got two runs off of Strike Force starter Cassie Godwin to take a early 2-0 lead.
But the Strike Force would storm back in the second inning, as they crossed the plate 6 times for a 6-2 advantage. The Thrillers plated 4 in the bottom of the third and at the end of regulation play the score remained tied at 6-6, forcing the game into extra innings.
In the extra-inning Jaime Drew would drive in Courtney Smith and Stacey Gibbs as the Strike Force would take an 8-6 lead.
But a win was not in the cards for the Strike Force, as the Thrillers would score three runs in the bottom half of the inning to claim a hard fought 9-8 victory. Meagan Jackson (double, single, 1 run), and Britney Syria (triple, single) led Strike Force offense at the plate.
Jamie Drew (1 hit), Taylor Pierce (1 hit, 1 run), Rayleen Miller (1 run, 1 hit), Lori Bonds (1 run), Stacey Gibbs (1 run), Kris Culliver (1 run), Cassie Godwin (1 run), and Courtney Smith (1 run) rounded out the scoring for Strike Force.
Manage Lamar Godwin stated that he was very proud of the way these ladies battled all weekend.
Strike Force 14 and under team members are: Jaime Drew, Meagan Jackson, Cassie Godwin, Britney Syria, Heather Mura, Kris Culliver, Courtney Smith, Lori Bonds, Stacey Gibbs, Rayleen Miller, Taylor Pierce, Kick Williams, and Olivia Godwin.