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BOLINGER STRONG IN TOURNAMENT WIN OVER KOFA

Posted by Dolly Wright on Mar 07 2012 at 04:00PM PST

This story first appeared

March 8, 2012

Arizona Central

By Kelsey Perry

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BULLHEAD CITY -- Yuma Kofa Coach Emma Morrison said her team came into the Mohave Tournament of Champions expecting some heat coming off the mound.

What it got was a baptism by fire.

Yucaipa, Calif., starting pitcher Brooke Bolinger gave up no runs and just a single hit while striking four of seven Kofa batters -- most with her crafty sinker -- in her two innings on the mound Thursday.

Yucaipa had the opposite luck at the plate, putting up nine runs in the first two innings to eventually defeat Kofa 9-0 in first round of the tournament at Mohave High School.

Nerves and severe winds didn't help Kofa's defense, which struggled against a hard-hitting Yucaipa offense that used the wind to its advantage.

"This team's never been here before," Morrison said. "It was tough in the beginning, battling the wind and then (Yucaipa) going out like that."

Yucaipa's nine runs on 11 hits in the first two innings included two home runs. Kofa pitcher Sarai Camacho said she has never pitched in such windy conditions. The sophomore had some trouble settling in on the mound, but she battled back in the final two innings, holding Yucaipa scoreless and allowing just one more hit.

"The wind's blowing in your face, and it slows you down a little bit," Camacho said. "I started throwing the ball a little lower. I wasn't throwing them as high so they couldn't hit them as far."

Kofa's defense eventually found its rhythm, but its offense never would. Yucaipa's relief pitcher Becca Harps threw the final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four of 12 batters. Kofa managed just three hits all game.

Morrison said Bolinger's sinker made it difficult for her batters at the plate.

"They weren't swinging at bad pitches, coming in they looked good," she said. "But then they just dropped down. She did a good job throwing those drop balls."

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