Youth Sports - Softball: 14U AGSL Pride Take Third in Maryland at Summer Sizzler

(Aug. 13, 2010) - The 14-and-under Ashburn Girls Softball League (AGSL) Pride, a house league all-star team took third place recently in the Howard County Summer Sizzler after prevailing over several full-time travel teams from Maryland and Virginia.

In bracket play, the Pride was led by strong pitching performances from Kathleen Meier and Sam DeNuccio, as well as, clutch hitting from Abby Pfude, Mackensie Reilly, Rachel Williams and Rachel Young.

Olivia Lacny, Jordan Meyer, Kayla Shroyer, Mackensie and Jessica Beliveau made outstanding defensive plays against HYCP Liberty Red and the Red Raiders.

The Pride was the No. 1 seed advancing from the C group. In tournament play on Sunday, Pfude and Sarah Neff starred behind the plate for the Pride as they advanced to the semifinals against a very tough Joppatowne Xplosion team.

Morgan Barber and Reilly provided a spark with key steals in a 5-4 victory. Meier and DeNuccio again provided strong pitching performances.

After falling behind early to the Leesburg Revolution, the eventual champions, the Pride waged a furious comeback in the last inning scoring six runs with clutch hitting from Beliveau, Lacny, Pfude, Neff and Young. Unfortunately, for the Ashburn team, the last inning rally fell short and they went home disappointed in the final score, but proud of their achievement for a recently formed All-Star team.