Without a single loss, the Culver City Lady Warriors 12Under team swept through the annual Turkey Tournament, winning all six of the games they played on route to winning the championship game on Nov. 24 versus San Pedro, 11-0.
“It is a big tournament so it is a big deal for us,” Todd Francis, one of the coaches, said. “Every year we have gotten better and better but this is the first year where we have actually won.”
With 15 teams in the tournament, the first two games determine seeding for the single-elimination portion of the tournament. As part of the American Softball Association, the format differs from that of little league tournaments or leagues. Instead of the more traditional innings-set game, the ASA allows each game to grind out for an hour and twenty minutes to determine the winner.
“There are shorter games and a little bit tougher competition,” Francis said. “So it is pretty cut throat. Unlike little league in softball or baseball, where you have six or seven innings to work with, this is a quick game so you have to jump on it early and that is what we did.”
Having outscored their competition 64-6, the Lady Warriors averaged more than 10 runs a game and only gave up one run a game, on average.
“I think that speaks more of the pitching than the hitting because we allowed six runs in six games,” Francis said. “We had two players who pitched for us: Coi Brown, who threw almost the entire tournament, and Ashley Baizer.”
The girls, all ages 11 to 12, include Michelle Franco, Kaila Mashita, Anaiya Mitchell, Coi Brown, Ryan Merriwether, Lailah Bell, Janell Brown, Brook Francis, Mariana Ledezma, Bridget Padilla, Sam Johnson, Bree Thompson, Ashley Baizer and Drew Preciado.
Information regarding Culver City Fastpitch registration for the spring is available at http://culvercityfastpitch.com.