June 27, 2024
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – After a quick and hefty helping of “O” it was almost a case of “Oh no!” for the Select Fastpitch 18-Jones squad.
During Thursday’s action at the P5 fastpitch event, Select sprinted to an 8-0 lead over Texas Glory’s 18’s, only to see the bats go quiet as the Glory mounted a response. After 14 runs were scored in the first two innings, the teams combined for just two more the rest of the way, with Select pocketing a 9-7 victory on Horsetooth Field at the Triple Crown Sports complex.
Ultimately, Select prevailed thanks to solid defense, a key insurance run on a solo homer from Madson Uptegrove (a Missouri commit) in the third inning, and some gritty relief work in the circle by Ryann Sanders (Louisville), who worked confidently for 2 2/3 innings.
“We’ve just got to make the adjustments. They brought in a pitcher who spun it better and was maybe a hair slower – we just didn’t make that adjustment quick enough,” said Select head coach Eric Jones. “I’m proud of our pitchers, who came in after that big inning and held them after that. They hit locations, and that sealed the deal.
“Ryann spins it well, and she has a great change-up, and that kept them off balance. These are all blue-collar kids, and it matches what you see physically out of them. I couldn’t be happier to be coaching this group.”
In the first, Abby Carr (Arizona State) got it rolling for Select with a two-run homer that bounced noisily off the bleachers in centerfield. Audri Youngblood (Kansas) added a two-run single, and Carr closed the attack with an RBI single that drove in Uptegrove, who was 3-for-3 with two RBI and two extra base hits on the day.
“That will put some fire in us, to want to do better and put more runs on the board,” Carr said. “After they rallied, it was important that we talked to our pitchers and the defense, to get them settled down. (Sanders) was really good, shut them down.
“The (home run), I was seeing the ball really well and have been all summer. I’m just going up with a good approach, make contact and do something good for my team.”
Jada Zepeda scored a run and drove in two more from the leadoff spot for the Glory; Maggie Olsen (North Alabama) had two hits, a run and an RBI.
The Glory nearly completed their comeback in the top of the fifth when Olsen and Helen Broomfield reached on singles, then moved to second and third on a double steal. After a soft liner back to the circle for the second out, Sanders endured a long, stress-packed at-bat against Aundrea Wilson (Texas), wrapping up the debate by getting a fly ball to centerfield.
