By Staff
NILES - The Intensity NBGSA girls fastpitch softball team traveled to Chattanooga, Tenn. last weekend to participate in the NSA Class B World Series for girls ages 14 and under.
Despite playing in heat index in excess of 100 degrees, the team fared well by notching six wins against two losses to claim ninth place out of 95 teams from across the eastern half of the country.
The team opened the tourney with an 8-1 win over the Midland Jets.
Jenna Ignowski was the winning pitcher, with nine strikeouts. Holly Lucas, Kendra Zache and Ignowski paced the offense with two hits each.
Intensity then defeated a good Benton Bomber team from Lafayette, Ind., 1-0.
Ignowski was once again the winning pitcher throwing a perfect game in the process. Delaina Schroeder and Patty Anton each had base hits for Intensity.
The team then defeated Extreme from Illinois, 9-1.
Zache was the winning pitcher striking out nine batters. Ignowski led the offense by going 3-for-3, including a long home run over the center field fence. Maggie Ernsberger, Emily Ross, Kaley Jones, Anton and Schroeder each had key hits.
Intensity then faced the Freedom team from Alabama and claimed a 7-0 victory.
Lucas and Zache had two hits each, while Ignowski, Ross, Ernsberger, Jones and Schroeder had one hit each.
Ignowski and Zache both pitched effectively, striking out 10 Freedom Batters.
The winning streak then came to an abrupt halt when the Dixie Chicks from Virginia shut out Intensity by the score of 5-0, sending the team to the losers bracket.
Intensity managed only three hits off the Chicks by Brooke Coshow, Ignowski and Ernsberger. Ignowski suffered the loss on the mound.
The girls bounced back with a 6-3 win against the Indiana Chaos.
Anton, Schroeder and Zache each had two key base hits and Coshow and Ross added a single.
The team then faced the Indianapolis Raiders and survived with a 5-4 win.
Ignowksi's home run and two doubles paced the offense. Zache added three hits and Anton and Coshow both had two singles.
Zache was the winning pitcher with relief help by Ignowski.
In the final game, Intensity led the Akron Sapphires by the score of 4-0, but could not hold the lead, falling 5-4 in eight innings. Cricket Fisher led the Intensity offense with a single and RBI.
Left fielder Jones, catcher Ernsberger and shortstop Fisher each played outstanding defense during the tourney.
Coach Rick Zache said the girls simply ran out of gas after playing four consecutive games, but added he was proud of the team's accomplishment.
Intensity will close out their season this weekend at the Penn Harris tourney in Granger.