Sorcerer 18 Gold - Mumma

As visitor, Sorcerer started the game with three up and three down. Having scored over 30 runs in the last three games, TNL was pumped up. TNL #25, Courtney Craig, started the action with a home run over the left field fence. The next batter popped up, and Shenise Cox made her first of several nice catches in the outfield for an out. TNL the got another runner on base. TNL #77 then pounded ball to the fence, scoring two more runs. Or did she? Controversy over whether the hit was a ground rule double delayed the game for 15 minutes. Ultimately, the umpires sided with TNL and awarded TNL the two runs. Stephanie Bregante pitched out of the inning with Sorcerer down 0 to 3.

Jordan Wallace led off the second inning with a single to deep left field. Maya Burns stepped to the plate and received a close inside pitch that nearly hit her. Refusing to back away from the plate, Maya anticipated the outside pitch, which she sent sailing over the right field fence to score 2 runs, her third home run of the season. Whitney Shaw hit a ball that was too hot to handle by the second baseman who made an error, allowing Whitney to get to first. Alas, Whitney was left stranded on base as TNL pitching won out over the bottom of the Sorcerer lineup. In the bottom of the second inning, Stephanie struck out two batters and Katie Fleury caught a pop-up to end the inning with Sorcerer down 2 to 3.

In the third inning, Emily Allard made a nice slap hit to get on base. Samantha Camuso hit a fielders choice to advance Emily to second base. Jordan was hit by a pitch. Then, with runners on first and second, Maya hit a double to right-center field that scored Emily, but Jordan was caught in attempt to reach 3rd base.

In the bottom of the third inning, Shenise caught another ball deep in left field. Stephanie struck out the next batter, and Kasey Tydingco made a diving catch of a pop up by TNL #77 to end the inning with the score tied, 3 to 3.

The fourth inning was uneventful, as both teams went 3 up and 3 down.

In the fifth inning, Katie got a base hit with a ball to deep right field. With Samantha up to bat, Katie then stole second. However, she could have rested, for on the next pitch, Samantha smacked one over the fence for her first home run of the summer season. Pitcher Michelle Gascoigne relieved Stephanie and held the TNL scoreless in the inning to take the lead, 5 to 3.

In the sixth inning, Sorcerer showed some weakness, as two infield errors led to a TNL run. To compound matters, pitcher Stephanie Bregante was hit in the thigh by a line drive. Sorcerer exited the inning with a slim 5 to 4 lead.

Testing Michelle's nerve, the first batter hit the ball back to the pitcher. Michelle fielded it perfectly. The next batter hit the ball to the second baseman for another out. Michelle walked the third batter and then decided enough was enough and struck out the last batter swinging, ending the exciting game with a score of 5 to 4.

In her first at bat, Jordan Wallace blasted a home run to right-center field to score Samantha Camuso and herself, her 6th home run of the summer season. Next, Maya Burns and Shenise Cox singled and Whitney Shaw was walked to load the bases. Kasey Tydingco then hit a double, scoring Maya and Shenise for the last two Sorcerer runs of the game.

On the defensive side, playing first base, Kasey made a nice sliding catch along the first base line in the 4th inning for an out. And in the 7th inning, Emily Allard showed her speed with a beautiful catch in right field.

Infield errors opened the window for the Filly's Gold, allowing all 3 runs. But excellent pitching by Michelle Gascoigne and Stephanie Bregante ended the run, as Sorcerer advanced after 7 innings of play to the third game of the sector qualifier at 3 PM against NW Bullets of Portland, OR.

Shenise Cox started the hitting with a base hit to right field. Whitney Shaw powered a double to score Shenise... Jordan Wallace continued her home run streak with a long shot over the right field fence, proving that she can drive the outside pitch just as easily as the inside pitch... Samantha came back strong with a double to deep center field that scored a run... Maya Burns extended her hitting streak with 2 doubles in 3 at bats. Maya has 16 hits in the last 22 at bats... Tiffany Dueck laid down a beautiful bunt and sped to first base before the Dynasty could field the ball.

On the defensive side, Stephanie Bregante shut down the Dynasty with a rise ball that was completely untouchable. When Dynasty popped up to the outfield, Sorcerer defense was there to catch the ball. Tiffany, Shenise, and Emily Allard each made terrific catches. When a pop up approached the first base side fence, in an unorthodox exercise of strength, catcher Maya pushed the fence out of the way so that she could catch the ball before it hit the fence.

The game ended in the bottom of the fifth inning when Ashley Rose drove in the 7th and 8th runs, advancing Sorcerer in the winners' bracket to the second game of the qualifier at 9 AM Saturday morning on Maidu field 1.