July 2, 2024
LOVELAND, Colo. — No team ever leaves the ballfield satisfied with a tie. However, the Golden State Gators were far more appreciative of Tuesday’s 4-4 result than their counterpart, Oklahoma Athletics Premier 09 Zodrow.
After falling behind 4-0 after three innings, Golden State engineered an impressive rally to tie things late before the one-hour, 45-minute time limit prevented either team from pulling ahead. Regardless, head coach Robert Burley was proud of how his Gators fought back in their second Colorado Sparkler Junior 14u open game.
“The girls battled, and all you can ask for is a chance to win at the end,” Burley said following the tie at Centennial Complex Field 1 in Loveland. “They got us to that point, so I'm super proud of them.”
Golden State right fielder Sydney Wong delivered the game-tying single in the bottom of the sixth, bringing home Alexis Mah, who worked a leadoff walk. Jolie Wong, courtesy running for Sydney Wong, reached third base on a wild pitch but was left stranded when Aliyah Scheller grounded to short.
Golden State’s comeback began in the fourth inning when with two runners on, Sydney Wong scored both on a double. Scheller then drove in Wong with a single that brought the Gators to within one, 4-3.
“Once we started rallying and scoring runs, our team got really excited,” Sydney Wong said. “Everybody wanted to be part of the rally.”
As Wong and Co. began finding success at the plate, pitcher Brooke Arce held Oklahoma scoreless in the final three innings. Arce tossed all six innings for the Gators, striking out seven and allowing nine hits.
“Brooke pitched amazing today,” Burley said. “She's a pretty dominant pitcher when she's on.”
The Athletics created traffic in the fourth and fifth innings but Arce prevented any damage.
“We started having bad at-bats,” said Athletics head coach Nick Zodrow. “We had runners at second and third a couple of times and couldn't get a big two-out hit. That's the name of the game. The timely hitting, we just didn't get it. It's pretty frustrating.”
In the first inning, Oklahoma’s Paizlee Zodrow and Bailey Summa each produced an RBI single. Then in the third, pitcher Lakelyn Harger helped herself with along two-run homer to right center.
“When you get up there (to the plate) as a pitcher, they're like, 'Oh, she's a pitcher. She's not gonna hit the ball,'” Harger said. “That's why I like getting up there and showing them that I can hit the ball and am good all the way around.”
Oklahoma Athletics Premier closed its first day of the Colorado Junior Sparkler at1-0-1, downing Peoria Sluggers Vaughn, 7-1, earlier. They’ll face OC Batbusters Aldrich/Morales (8 a.m.) and Springs Storm (10 a.m.) on Wednesday at Fossil Creek Park in Fort Collins.
The Golden State Gators also wrapped Tuesday at 1-0-1 after beating Team Hustle SoCo, 14-0, in their first game. On Wednesday, they'll battle Peoria Sluggers Vaughn (10 a.m.) and Springs Storm (noon) at Fossil Creek Park.
