July 1, 2024
WESTMINSTER, Colo. – Having already faced down one massive scare Sunday at the Triple Crown International Challenge, the Polynesia 18u team really didn’t show much wobble when the scoreboard was against them a second time.
Call it the sense of belief that comes with previous success, or the fact beating Polynesia in this event is just hard to do, but either way the 18’s came through in the end with a 6-2 victory over Cuba to win the championship game at Christopher Fields. It marked the second year the 16’s and 18’s from the program won it all the same year.
The big scare in the semifinals was falling behind by five runs to Ireland; Polynesia rang up six runs in their final set of at-bats to set the stage for the title game where Cuba took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on solo home runs from Samantha Zelenka (a Florida International college commit) and Sarah Breaux, who is bound for Clemson. Polynesia tied it up, 2-2, thanks to a home run from Ori Mailo and a groundout by Sydney Capello.
“We were able to recover from this morning,” said Polynesia coach Josh Capello. “We were able to move on, and we realized that any deficit wouldn’t be too much. We did want to get everyone in the game; people travel, parents put up a lot of money, and we were able to get everybody off the bench by yesterday and today.”
Polynesia slowly pulled ahead 4-2, and then put across some insurance thanks to a two-out single by Day-Lee Williams (Georgia) that scored Taryn Hirano (High Point),with Kaimi Tulua (Syracuse) capping the offense with a solo home run. Another key facet of the attack was a final total of 10 stolen bases.
“Playing for Team Poly the last two years, having this opportunity and the team putting their trust in me, it means a lot,” Tulua said. “It’s so unreal, all we’ve accomplished. We get to play this sport and represent our countries with all our heart and hard work. For our parents, who’ve done so much, it means everything.”
Ayla Tuua came through with four innings of high-caliber relief pitching, and showed up very well in the circle all weekend.
“We are great players, and we are even better people – there’s so much cooperation off the field and just a lot of underlying support,” she said. “That’s pushes us to be what we can be. I trust my teammates. And for (the future), it’s definitely nerve-wracking, knowing everything people have to offer. It’s amazing to be this blessed and have the opportunity. I have a great support system, and most importantly I have God, who will help guide me where I need to be.”
“She’s been popping it at 70, 71, maybe 72 (mph). Every school in the country is going to come after her, and she just turned 16 the other day,” coach Capello said. “You go with the fastball and see what people can do with it. Ireland put some stick on the ball, Japan did too, and she had to work her way through. We just love to see kids work on their skills and get better.”
Cuba’s Malia Plourde (Bossier Parish) went 3-for-3 in the title game.
