Local teams ready for bracket play in St. Louis

Although their results have so far been decidedly mixed, it really doesn’t matter because now comes the important part for two local 18-and-under softball teams at the Junior Olympic Cup in St. Louis.

The reason is Rock Gold-Waye and the Pennsylvania Chaos will both begin play in the double elimination portion of the tournament Wednesday after finishing up pool play Tuesday afternoon.

Their opponents for the opening round were to have been determined in a draw Tuesday night.

In its last pool game, Rock Gold rallied in the last two innings and ended up playing to a 5-all tie against the Indiana Fusion Elite. Rock Gold used four different pitchers in this game and ended pool play with a 1-1-1 record.

“Hopefully the girls will be recovered by tomorrow (Wednesday),” said coach Rick Waye in reference to his team playing 12 games last week en route to the USA Softball Gold national championship and then scrambling to find its way to St. Louis after missing its original flights from Texas.

“These girls are tough, but it takes time. In our first (pool) game two of our players fell asleep in the dugout. People are saying I was crazy to put the team in both tournaments, but we’ll see how it goes.”

The Pennsylvania Chaos, meanwhile, finished 2-1 in pool play after getting drubbed by the Scrap Yard Internationals of Texas Tuesday by the score of 9-1.

The Chaos had only two hits in the game. Northern Burlington High School ace Haylei Archer got the start and things did not go well as she gave up nine earned in three innings.