VA Crushers '99 Place 1st in
Third Consecutive Tournament
The Virginia Crushers ’99 Girls Fastpitch Softball team won their 3rd consecutive tournament this weekend, taking first place in the USSSA BRYC Fall Classic in Annandale, Va. The win qualifies the Crushers for the USSSA World Series in Orlando, Fl. The Crushers outscored their opponents 41–4, going 5-0 for the weekend. The Crushers pitching staff of Leah Shipp, Emily Weatherholtz and Sydney Fisher recorded a .29 ERA while throwing over 13 strikeouts per game. Leah Shipp pitched a perfect game in the championship game against the Ashburn Shooting Stars. The Crusher offense was led by Emily Weatherholtz, batting .750 with 3 RBIs. Julia Sinnet and Serenity Stewart also hit over .400 and Erin Jones drove in 4 RBIs.
The Crushers opened up against the SYA Xplosion. A lead off single by Erin Jones followed by a key hit from Leah Shipp led to a 4 run first inning. Leah drove in 2 more runs in the 2nd to stake the Crushers to a 6-0 win. In game 2 the Crushers pushed across 13 runs to go 2-0 in pool play, claiming the number 1 seed going into double elimination. In the first elimination game the Crushers again faced the SYA Xplosion. Amanda Beane and Bailey Mastin scored on a key hit by Erin Jones to score 2 runs and lead the Crushers to a 4-0 win. Serenity Stewart also had an RBI. The Crushers returned to Annandale on Sunday to take on the Fairfax Firebirds in the semifinals. Morgan Blot, Diane Anders, and Emily Weatherholtz all had base hits with Erin Jones driving in 2 runs as the Crushers exploded for 7 in the first inning. Emily Weatherholtz threw a no-hitter from the circle to claim the 10-0 victory.
In the Championship game Morgan Blot drove in 2 runs with a double in the first and Julia Sinnett drove in Morgan as the Crushers jumped to a 3-0 lead. The Crushers followed with 3 more in the second on hits by Serenity Stewart, Leah Shipp and Julia Sinnett. In the circle Leah Shipp threw a perfect game, striking out 12 of the 15 batters she faced. A blast by the Shooting Star’s number 4 hitter to centerfield was dropping in for a hit but was chased down by Serenity Stewart with a spectacular catch to end the game and sew up the championship for the Crushers. For the weekend, Madison Hool reached base 5 out 8 times, and made a spectacular play from right field against the Xplosion to preserve a no hitter. Emily Weatherholtz led the team with a 750 average and an 857 on base percentage. Julia Sinnett and Morgan Blot each recorded doubles. Erin Jones and Sydney Fisher led the team with 6 runs each and Leah Shipp had 8 RBIs for the weekend.