Monday, July 16, 2012

CF Wins State Championship


State Champs!!!

It was not looking good. Carolina Forest had already dropped the first game of the 9-10-year-old Little League Minors Softball Tournament against Irmo by a score of 11-5. They quickly found themselves down 8-1 in the top half of the third with two outs in the second game against a tough Greenwood-Abbeville team.

The Forest wasn’t ready to give up though. They were ready to battle. The team proceeded to score seven runs to tie the game and went on to win 14-9 as pitcher Rachel Lindaberry held Greenwood-Abbeville to just one run over the final four frames. The come-from-behind victory would prove to be a turning point for the squad.

Buoyed by momentum from the previous day’s victory, the team entered Thursday’s elimination game against local rival Myrtle Beach with confidence. Katie Endres started the game, and the team built an early 12-2 lead after only two innings. Erin Spraker and Kayla Kennedy both played pivotal roles as relief pitchers and combined to go 7 for 8 at the plate to secure an 18-8 victory.

Irmo’s early success in the tournament put them in the driver’s seat as Carolina Forest had to battle back through the loser’s bracket. The Forest would need to defeat Irmo twice to claim the championship.

Rachel Lindaberry delivers a strike.

On Friday, Carolina Forest called upon Lindaberry to go the distance. The game saw numerous lead changes and momentum swings.  Grace Jolly led the offense going 4 for 4. Abbie McCoy, who played brilliantly behind the plate throughout the tournament, proved to be a tough out going 3 for 4 in the game. Madison Scholl scored after bunting to reach base in the 2nd inning. The game went back and forth and was locked up at nine apiece heading into the final inning. “We told them to win the inning,” said Coach Frank Endres. The Forest then scored six innings in the top half of the sixth and Lindaberry held Irmo to one run in the bottom half forcing a final winner-take-all rematch on Saturday.

Grace Jolly prepares to hit.

With Lindaberry going the distance the day before, Carolina Forest assigned Katie Endres to take the mound. Backed by solid hitting throughout the lineup, Carolina Forest struck first in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Leadoff hitter Nicole Nardella collected four hits in the game. Kelsey Gollie went 3 for 5, and Mariah Drocella had two big hits to keep pace with Irmo. The two evenly matched teams found themselves tied again going into the final inning. This time the score was 13-13.

The Forest scored three runs in the top half of the sixth, but Endres and her team had to face the heart of Irmo’s batting order in the bottom half to claim a victory.

Irmo’s first two batters reached base and soon Irmo had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. That is when Carolina Forest’s defense shut down Irmo. After an Endres pitch got past catcher Abbie McCoy, the runner on third attempted to steal home. McCoy’s quick reflexes took over and the Irmo runner soon found herself in a rundown. McCoy threw a strike to Grace Jolly at third who applied a tag for the first out. The next batter walked putting the tying run at the plate. That batter grounded out to Endres.

With two outs and two on, Endres delivered a pitch that was hit hard right back at her. Endres instinctively stuck out her glove and made the grab ending a thrilling game and securing a 16-13 victory.

"We battled the whole tournament, and this was truly a team accomplishment. Every girl contributed in every win and they showed exceptional sportsmanship in every game. When a teammate made an error, or struck out, every other girl on the team would go straight to her to encourage her and pick up her spirits. They never gave up, never hung their heads and played as a team throughout." said Coach Frank Endres.

"The best thing about winning this tournament is that we get to keep this team together. They all get along so well and are all so positive. It has been a great experience as a parent to see them start out as teammates and become friends."

The team will represent South Carolina in the Tournament of State Champions Softball Invitational in Luray, Virginia July 26th-31st.
Coach Frank Endres and the team celebrate a victory over Irmo.


If you are interested in supporting the team, contact Crissy Endres at crissyatthebeach@yahoo.com. The team will hold a car wash at Horry County State Bank on Carolina Forest Blvd, on Saturday, July 21 from 11-2. There will also be a fundraiser at the Carolina Forest Beef O’Brady’s that Saturday from 5:30-9:00. A portion of all proceeds during that time will go to the team. Finally, Ron Jon’s Burgers will hold a fundraiser on Monday, July 23

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