Aug. 12, 2011
Intensity U-10s Have Strong Showing
The Nevada County Intensity 10U’s traveled to the Davis/Dixon area last week to compete with teams from, Fremont, Sacramento, Redding, Auburn, Vacaville and two teams from Pleasant Hil in an age group fastpitch softball tournament.
The local team made a statement by proving teams from the hills can play softball. In their opener they faced a strong Vacaville Hurricanes squad. Elizabeth Moses led the way for Team Intensity with strong defensive play at shortstop and tore up the base path with four stolen bases scoring the lone run for Team Intensity as they lost the game 5-1. Callie Bickmore was the lone chucker picking up 7 K’s vs. the strong hitting Hurricane team while Emerson Dunbar and Shelbi Beghetti teamed up for 4 outs together on defense.
The Intensity bounced back strong in their second game with a 6-2 victory over the Redding All-Stars. Syenna Velasquez started things off with a leadoff double as Team Intensity scored 3 runs in the first and allowed none. The Intensity offense added 3 more runs in the game and Bickmore’s strong pitching continued only allowing two runs while striking out 5.
Holly Hansen added a strong defensive effort in the outfield. Team Intensity continued to role in their final game Saturday as they faced the Pleasant Hill Panthers. Five of the first six batters found themselves safely across home plate as Team Intensity jumped out to a 5-2 lead after one inning. McKenna Byers and Velasquez’s added stolen bases along with steady outfield play from Morgan Tremewan. Callie Bickmore added 7 more strike outs to her impressive pitching weekend leading Team Intensity to an 8-3 victory setting the stage for Sunday.
Sunday paired Team Intensity against the Sacramento Gold Rush. Intensity jumped out first as Beghetti slid by the catcher to score on a passed ball in the second. The Gold Rush did not lie down and came fighting back as they answered with four runs of their own and added a fifth in the 3rd.
Bickmore’s pitching shut down the Gold Rush the rest of the way but a flawless Gold Rush D was able to hold down Nevada County’s numerous hard hit balls to end scoring threats. Kaylee “Moose” Bohrer was driven in by Dunbar to keep the game close. Jaycee Parman smashed a double trying to ignite Team Intensity but the Sacramento Gold Rush once again answered on defense and walked away with a 5-2 victory sending Team Intensity home for the day.
Bickmore struck out 11 Gold Rush batters in the loss increasing her weekend total to 30 strike outs over four games. Nevada County Intensity 10U is a newly formed competitive girl’s fastpitch softball team that began playing in June representing girls from Auburn, Lake of the Pines, Alta Sierra, and Grass Valley.
They are registered with ASA and IFA softball. They started out the season 0-5 but with determination, dedication and the love of softball have gone 7-4 the last 11 games. They practice 3 times a week and travel playing two tournaments a month. They are currently looking to add girls for the remainder of this year and the coming 2012 season. The season ends around November and will gather again in March of 2012. Anyone interested in playing can contact Dave at 530-603-1249.