July 21, 2024
BY BOB JUDSON
OGDEN, UT — The key play in the Gold Championship game of the Triple Crown 14u World Series between Diamond Dogs (Ogden, UT) and Boise Blast Cole (Boise, ID) is not logged as a stat and will simply be listed as FO-7 in the scorebook.
Diamond Dogs left fielder Lyla Leonhardt chased down a space shot by Blast shortstop Josie Moorhouse and flagged it out of the air just two feet in front of a temporary fence in left center for the third out in the top of the fifth inning.
Boise had two runners on and both would at least have scored, and possibly Moorhouse also. Diamond Dogs led 5-0 at the time.
“Before the play I knew if it came to me, I had to catch it because we needed the out, so I made sure I watched it into my glove and chased it down,” Leonhardt said.
Karma plays a role in sports, and as often happens, after Leonhardt made the great play in the field, she had an at bat in the bottom of the fifth.
Leonhardt promptly doubled, not coincidently to left field, and scored on a single by catcher Ellie Koford as the Diamond Dogs moved past Boise Blast 6-0 at Fourth Street Park on Saturday to take the title.
“There was one out and no runners on; I knew I had to get on for my team,” I kept fouling off strikes until I got one I liked,” Leonhardt said. “I knew I had to run hard and not get out or else we wouldn’t win the game.”
Diamond Dogs pitcher Kennadie Blackmer and Boise starter Sophia Navarrete matched zeros on the scoreboard for the first two innings.
“Even if I get runners on, keep it at 0-0, because as soon as you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile; get them out every chance I got,” Blackmer said.
Diamond Dogs finally broke through in the third when Blackmer walked with one out and had reached third base with two down, when a pitch scooted past Boise catcher Haylee Hultner. Blackmer broke for home and barely beat the tag at the plate for the first run of the game.
“I saw a passed ball, took the chance and it worked out,” Blackmer said.
If the “home team” took advantage of a mistake in the third inning, the Diamond Dogs got four more unearned runs on Boise errors and miscues in the fourth to go up 5-0.
Blackmer, the runner, scored two runs in the game, a bit unusual, as most teams put in courtesy runners or speed-up runners in when pitchers and catchers reach base.
“We only had nine today because one of our players is injured, so we don’t have any substitutions,” Blackmer said. “But I’m quick enough that I can get around the bases pretty well.”
Boise then threatened in the fifth inning with a double and a single, putting runners at the corners with one out. Blackmer struck out first baseman Geneva Crespin, then Moorhouse then pounded the pill that Leonhardt pulled in.
“I got two runners on; the girl hit a freaking launch missile to Lyla. I was screaming for her to catch it. She’s perfect. I had no doubt. That’s what we needed in the moment,” Blackmer said.
Blackmer pitched the five-inning complete game shutout, scattering three hits, walking two and striking out six, including all three in the first inning.
“My approach today was, first round they see me, go hard at it. Get a pop, ground ball. Second time around, ground ball, pop up. That’s what I want. They’ve already seen me and know what to expect,” Blackmer said. “Mostly threw arise ball. Some girls I threw a couple of curve balls and changeups. Relied on the rise ball and it worked.”
All of this in 100-degree heat.
“I feel like I’m pretty conditioned. I’m kind of used to it because I threw quite a bit for varsity (at Box Elder High), so I’m kind of used to seven innings. It does take a toll on you mentally, but physically I’m feeling pretty good,” Blackmer said.
Both teams played three games on Saturday and had to be strategic to get to the championship bout.
“Our other pitcher Cambree (Pierson) did an awesome job the first two games to win those first two,” Diamond Dogs coach Mandy Koford said. “Keeping KJ (Kennadie Jo) fresh to save her for the last game. She was able to go and push. KJ had her stuff today.”
Saturday’s win was kind of payback for the Diamond Dogs, who lost in a tournament last monthto Boise Blast and also in pool play earlier this week.
“These guys beat us by one run both times. This was a fun rematch. I was very proud of our girls being able to dig deep and get a little revenge against this amazing team from Boise,” Koford said. “Single elimination today energized them to know they had to win three games. They had all the energy in the world to win in their back yard.”
Taking the championship effectively at home was special, if not unexpected for the Diamond Dogs.
“We wanted to put our hat in the ring and see what we could do,” Koford said. “There were 47 teams from all over the country, and for us to come out on top – that’s what dreams are made of.”
