Last year the Gorham 16U softball team was knocked out of the Babe Ruth softball World Series before they knew what hit them. This year’s squad has already made sure that lightning didn’t strike twice. The girls from Gorham have gone on a tear at this year’s event with a 3-1 record in pool play.
Prairie Village, Ky. handed Gorham their first loss of the World Series, 3-0, Monday. Kelsey Crowe, who has been outstanding in the series so far, struck out nine and allowed only three hits but still took the loss.
Rachel Fogarty had a double and a single for Gorham. Catcher Molly Lortie threw out two runners at second base.
Despite the loss, Gorham earned a spot in the double-elimination championship round and were scheduled to face Methacton, Pa. Tuesday afternoon after the American Journal’s deadline.
In the previous game against Revere, Mass., Crowe pitched a no-hitter to lead Gorham to a 5-0 win. Crowe struck out 11 batters and walked two. The no-no was not the first for Crowe but it was her first in World Series play. In fact, Crowe recently threw a perfect game in the New England Regional.
A no-hitter is great, but the team still needed at least one run to win the game. Thanks to a great day at the plate, they got that one run and more. The team scored in the first inning off Revere’s Michelle Zullo. After a walk to Sara Burnheimer, Rachel Fogarty singled. Then Crowe reached on an error to load the bases. That set up Chelsea Clark who cleared the bases with a three-run double.
In the top of the fifth, Gorham added a pair of runs to their lead. Lauren Fleury walked and was moved over after Clark singled. With two outs, Mia McGill hit a two run single to right field, giving her team the 5-0 lead.
On the first day of pool play, Gorham got a pair of wins. Crowe was sharp from the circle again as she allowed just two hits in Gorham’s opening game, a 7-1 win over Dumas, Ark.
Gorham got three runs in the first inning and Crowe took over from there, striking out 11 and walking none.
Crowe also got it done at the plate as she finished the game with a pair of hits, two runs scored and two runs batted in. Lauren Chouinard also went 2 for 3 with two runs. Rachel Fogarty had two hits, one run and an RBI.
In the second game of that day, Crowe again tossed a two-hitter in an 8-0 win over North Olympic, Wash. Crowe had another two hits, including a double. Chelsea Clark had a two-run double for Gorham to help them earn what was their second win of the World Series.
Gorham put four runs on the board in the first inning and never looked back.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
