July 28, 2011
Intensity Rolls To World Series Title
The Nevada County Intensity 14u Girls Fastpitch Softball team, playing up in the 16u division, captured the crown at the IFA West Coast World Series in Stockto last weekend.
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The Intensity, comprised of Nevada and Placer County athletes opened play by knocking off the Sutter Storm 8-7. Alexis Deatrick got the win on the mound and Melanie O'Brien picked up the save.
On offense, a perfect Mikayla Laymance bunt set up the first run and the Intensity was able to hold on for the win. Dayna Byers was 2-3 with 4 RBI's, Amanda Geil, Torri Parman, Alex Scicluna, Shiloh Conners, Sarah Hansen, Alexis Dietrich and Kasey Miller all picked up hits in the balanced attack.
Game two resulted in the Intensity's only setback of the weekend, dropping a 10-8 decision to the Dirt Devils of Sacramento. Melanie O'Brien and Torri Parman both went 3x3 with 2 RBI's, Amanda Geil was 2x3 as Byers, Scicluna, Hansen and Deatrick all picked up hits.
As bracket play started Intensity bounced back behind the arm of Amanda Geil and the bats of Byers and O'Brien (each going 2x3) en route to a 5-2 victory over the Lodi Extreme. Amanda Geil picked up the only other hit for the Intensity which with the victory earned a shot to play for the winners bracket championship.
Standing in the way were the Scarlet Saints of Vacaville. Solid defense and timely hitting of Parman (2x3) and another outstanding pitching performance from Geil led the way as the Intensity advanced to the championship game with a 5-1 victory. Britnney Campbell, Geil, Byers, Sarah Hansen and Kasey Miller all picked up hits in the win.
The win allowed for the Intensity to sit back and see who would emerge from the losers bracket. It turned out to be the Lodi Extreme who had won 3 straight games since being dispatched to the losers bracket by the Intensity to gain the rematch.
A Melanie O'Brien first inning single, a stolen base and Dayna Byers RBI single made the score 1-0 in the first inning. Stellar pitching of Amanda Geil and another impressive defensive effort would see the score unchanged until the bottom of the sixth when the Intensity exploded for a 3 run outburst and a 4-0 lead heading to the seventh inning.
The Lodi team was able to mount a threat in the seventh however. With a runner on second and no outs Torri Parman picked up a ground ball throwing to Byers for the out at first who immediately threw a strike to Shilo Conners at third catching the runner trying to advance for a double play, their eighth of the tournament and sealed the championship by a 4-0 count.
Coach Chris Byers praised the unbelievable team effort in getting the title, "getting that double play at the end of the championship game was a fitting end to what they did all weekend."
"The tremendous pitching of Amanda Geil, Alex Scicluna catching all five games allowing only two stolen bases and timely hitting was huge as all the girls contributed,." he added.
On the weekend Dayna Byers batted .533 with 13 RBI's, Melanie O'Brien and Amanda Geil both batted .500 and Torri Parman .466 with 7 RBI's to lead the hitters.
The Nevada County Intensity is a local traveling team which fields teams in different age groups. A new 10u team has recently formed and looking for additional players. If interested please contact Dave at (530) 603 -1249. Interested Players in 14u or 16u should contact Chris at (530) 575 - 2315.