Curve Dominates in Spartanburg!!

The Carolina Curve put together a great weekend of softball this weekend at the ASA Fall Finale in Spartanburg, SC. The Curve dominated the competition going 6-0 for the weekend, outscoring their opponents 45-5, while finishing the tournament with 5 consecutive shutouts and 28 straight scoreless innings. The tournament was a complete team effort, leading the way on the mound was Lindsey Russell (Hopewell) pitching 24 innings while allowing only one earned run (also had her first HR), and Mellena Helms (Central Cabarrus) allowing only 2 earned runs in 10 innings. The bats were hot as well leading the way at the plate Kendall Settlemyre (Fred T Foard) with several hits in the leadoff spot, Rebekah Reaves (Piedmont), Jordan Critcher (TC Roberson) had a monster homerun, as well as Mackenzie Barbor (Nations Ford, SC) with her first TB HR, TJ Fain (Central Cabarrus) hit the cover off the ball all weekend and had some big RBI's, as well as Kayla Kindley (Central Cabarrus) with some fence shots and several extra base hits. Defensively was one of the best tournaments of the year had some key double plays including a 1-2-3 turned in the championship game, we were led by Sierra Bishop (West Henderson), Lindsey Brown (Central Cabarrus), and Lex Bruce (Central Cabarrus), and as usualy KC Shue (Concord), and Kaitlin Thompson (Asheboro) were solid behind the dish with no passed balls for the weekend. The Curve will finish their season in Burlington, NC next weekend.

Bracket Scores:
Curve 10 Sandlappers (Don) 0
Curve 9 Thunder White 0
Curve 6 Lady Lightning "GOLD" 0
Curve 8 Lady Lightning "GOLD" 0 Run Rule, Championship Game

 

I expected big things out of the Curve, and was surprised to see them apparently struggling in their first pool game. In fact, I was told by fans of the Thunder team that the Thunder actually won the first pool game. Apparently that was inaccurate. Not that it matters... it was, after all, a pool game.

However, after that first game, the Curve was obviously a force to be reckoned with, beating some fairly strong teams with impressive scores. Of course, the cold weather Sunday morning was an extra opponent to overcome.

Hats off on your achievement.

 

The Curve was leading 3-2 after 5 complete innings, then the Thunder did score 3 runs with two outs in the top of the 6th and the game was called due do it being drop dead in pool play but the Curve did not get to have their at bat in the bottom of the inning. I have always been told the score reverts back to the last completed inning in that situation, i may be wrong. But this was just a pool game where all 12 girls played and we split the pitching time giving both an equal 3 innings. Its good to see the new Curve members starting to gell with the rest of the team, i really think the team will be a force to be reckoned with next summer.

Also hats off to the Sandlappers (Don) on their third place finish they are going to be a tough bunch in the near future, i was told they are all 8th and 9th graders i beleive, they played very well and were a scrappy ball team.

 

I noticed they [Sandlappers (Don)] had picked up one Sophmore for the weekend, but they were a first year 14U team this year and I believe you are otherwise correct.

Many of these girls were on the 1998 Little League World Series Championship (12U) team.

As far as the Thunder result, the answer to whether the score reverts in a drop-dead pool game depends on which team you ask. Drop-dead time limits are not normally contemplated by the rules, and may be handled differently by different tournament directors. It would seem to make the most sense to follow the rules you specified, which are intended for games called due to weather, etc., but that is not always the case. To avoid the issue, smart TD's don't use drop dead time limit for any game in which the result matters.

 

I believe you should finish the inning at least in the drop dead games.

 

Well if you finished the inning then it wouldn't be drop dead. it would be finish the inning once time has expired. Drop dead means drop dead where you are at.

 

WHOOO!

I just wanted to say WOW what a team the CURVE is in both ability and in heart; this is an outstanding group of people, parents included. We went down to Spartanburg this weekend and had some of the best execution in certain situations that I have ever been a part of. This team put on a clinic on how to do the little things it takes to win, from hitting a homerun in one at bat to laying down a sacrifice bunt the very next one. We hit behind runners, made adjustments on how a pitcher is pitching her from one at bat to another, flat out hustled all the time, and the one thing that matters most to me, the girls were teammates and they played for the glory of their team before the glory of themselves. This team has and will continue to turn out great players that are great people to the college ranks; they are the ones who have a true understanding of what to expect when they get there, and our team has what it takes. As I told the girls this weekend, this was the last one for us this fall, but we will be with the CURVE next week in spirit when they go to Burlington!!!! Go get ‘em girls! See y’all at work outs over the winter and when we fire back up in the spring. It has been great getting to coach all of y’all! And for the new additions of our team: you are now apart of something great!!!!!!!!!!!!

See y’all soon,
Bart

 

Great Job !!

A lot of 2011-2013 talent on this team. Jeff will have a team to be reckoned with next year in the ASA State, and other competitive tournaments..GURU

 

The only good team their was the 14 sand lappers and their roster is filled with mostly 13 year old girls.

Good win....but domination comes when you play better talent.

 

Stupid Question

If the 14U Sandlappers were the "only good team their [sic]," who beat them to prevent them from coming out of the loser's bracket for the championship game?