Rock Gold-Waye advances to semis in U18 National Championships
The only thing that’s been hotter than the temperature in the Texas city of Plano has been the Rock Gold-Waye softball team.
With the temperature “down” to a balmy 109 degrees, Rock Gold-Waye moved into the semifinals of the USA Softball Gold 18-and-under Nationals Friday afternoon with an 8-2 victory over the Louisiana Blaze.
Rock Gold was to have been back in action late Friday night against the Ohio Hawks. In the other semifinal Friday night, the Texas Firecrackers were to have played Team Georgia Gold.
“We came out flat, but we still got by,’’ said coach Rick Waye following the win over the Louisiana team. “This next game is going to be really tough.’’
The Ohio Hawks were the last team this summer to beat Rock Gold when they posted a 3-2 victory in June in a gold qualifier in New Jersey.
The Ohio Hawks’ roster consists almost entirely of college girls who played in the Big 10 this past season. All of the Rock Gold-Waye players were still in high school this past spring.
After throwing a no-hitter earlier in the week, Rollins University recruit Ashley Worrell got the start in Rock Gold’s latest victory and responded with six strong innings in which she struck out three and gave up just four hits.
University of Florida-bound Danni Farley pitched the seventh and struck out two while mowing down the Cajun girls in order.
Rock Gold continued to tear it up at the plate with 12 hits. including two apiece by Meghan Sheehan, recent Neshaminty High grad Natalie Rios and Rider University recruit Elena Gonzalez. Both of Gonzalez’ hits were doubles.
“Gonzalez has been a stud for us,’’ said Waye. “We have her hidden in the No. 9 hole and she’s been tearing it up. She’s leading us in hitting with something like a .690 average. She has a beautiful swing and has been killing it.’’
Rock North scored in the top of the first on a sac fly by Emma Ritter. In the second it struck again when Rider-bound Gianna Epps singled and raced home on a Gonzalez double.
In the fourth Abby Waner doubled, Rios singled and Gonzalez got a run home with a fielders’ choice. In the Rock Gold fifth Ritter doubled and Epps laid down a sacrifice squeeze.
The sixth inning featured a double by Gonzalez, an RBI single by Sheehan and a booming triple by Breanna Bryant. The last run came in the seventh on an RBI single by Rios.
The winners of the semifinals will square off Saturday morning in the winners’ bracket final. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday night.
Following the Texas tournament, Rock Gold-Waye will fly to St. Louis to compete in the Junior Olympic Cup. That tourney gets underway Monday morning and Waye’s team has drawn the Louisiana Voodoo in the first round.