July 22, 2024
CHINO HILLS, CA – Coral Williams might have a gig waiting for her in Las Vegas, starring in a magic show that will stun and amaze.
When it mattered most at the 2024 TC Nationals, nobody did a better job making baserunners disappear.
Pitching for the 18u Athletics Mercado/Smith squad, Williams measured up under heavy pressure on two occasions in the championship game of the event, fending off Batbusters Stith and helping the Athletics exit with a 5-4 extra-inning victory at Chino Hills Community Park. Looking comfortable despite her age (she’ll only be a sophomore in the coming school year), Williams allowed just one unearned run over 5 2/3 innings of relief, scattering four hits and notching four strikeouts.
At the plate, the key blow came from Makenzie Butt (a college softball commit to Boise State), who drove in Aamaya Harrison (the ITB baserunner) in the top of the eighth inning with a single. And with that 5-4 lead in hand, Williams got a strikeout and infield grounder for the first two outs in the eighth, then shut the door with another strikeout.
“She’s been growing right before our eyes. She was a freshman coming into this, matured a lot and become a very strong pitcher. Really excited to see what the future holds for her,” said Athletics coach Dave Mercado. “Chemistry-wise, this is one of the tightest groups we’ve ever had. They play for each other, enjoy each other, and that’s been a key to the success.”
Williams entered the game in the bottom of the third inning when the Batbusters had runners on second and third with no outs. A baserunning mistake handed the Athletics an important out; Williams defused the rest of the threat on a tapper to the circle and a strikeout.
“I just know how to trust my defense, and I tried to throw effective pitches. I wasn’t worried about trying to strike anyone out,” she said. “I stick to my routine, keep breathing, trusting my teammates – it all came together.”
The Athletics took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Kaylynn Jones (Oregon) doubled to lead it off, and with two outs came home on a single from Jennalyn Sniffen (Arizona). Mila Reddy (Washington) then followed with an RBI double.
Batbusters took a moment but then pushed ahead for a 3-2 lead; Cori Hicks (Oklahoma) homered in the second inning and Kai Minor (Oklahoma) drove in two runs with a double in the third. The Athletics countered in the fifth with a solo home run by Paige Bambarger (Oregon State) and an RBI single by Butt that brought in Jones.
That 4-3 lead lasted a brief spell as the Batbusters tied it in the sixth on a single from Kale’a Tindal. The seventh inning went away quietly, setting the stage for Butt to go to work in the eighth.
“I was looking for a pitch I could drive, and I knew I wouldn’t get much toward the end of the count so I had to attack early,” she said. “I happened to get a pitch on the inner half. It’s fun – I’m all in when there’s pressure, and I try not to get distracted. I want to simplify the at-bat, do the simple thing, a ball up the middle that can help my team.”
“I’m not bunting with that kid, ever,” Mercado added. “She can flip the score in a heartbeat, knows what she’s doing in the box.”
