Brigette Del Ponte hit a 3 run homer in the top of the 7th to give the Pride a 5-0 lead. Photo by Jade Hewitt
Kansas City, KS – June 12, 2015 – Cat Osterman was virtually unhittable tonight in her third start of the year, striking out 13 batters for a complete game shutout victory. Osterman scattered three hits without walking a batter over the seven-inning masterpiece, only allowing one Charge player to reach second all night. In front of yet another large crowd of aspiring young softball players, the Pride put on a show at the plate as well, with nine hits in the ball game including a 6-hit barrage in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Osterman was perfect through three innings. In her first time through the lineup, she did not allow one ball to leave the infield, striking out five, including the side in the third. In USSSA Pride’s turn at the plate, the Pride would get all the runs they needed. After the first two batters struck out against Charge starter Lauren Haeger, Megan Wiggins worked a walk. Kelly Krestschman followed that up with a no-doubter over the fence to give the Pride the first two runs of the game.
In the home half of the fourth, Osterman surrendered a leadoff double to Renada Davis. The Charge excitement was short lived however, as the next three batters were retired in order with two being of the strikeout variety.
In her fifth and final inning on the mound for the Charge, Haeger collected her fifth and sixth strikeouts of the night. Along with those six K’s, she issued only three hits and two walks in only the second pitching start of her career.
Neither team could get much going until the away half of the seventh, where the Pride exploded for four runs on six hits. Seven different members of the team reached base, starting with a lead-off single by Shelby Pendley. After another single by Amanda Kamekona, Pendley was called out at third on a fielder’s choice by GiOnna DiSalvatore. After a Natasha Watley strikeout, Brigette Del Ponte was called on to pinch hit. This turned out to be a great decision, as she jumped on a Stokes fastball for a three-run jack of her own. Wiggins continued her great series at the plate with her second single on the night. After she stole second, Kretschman extended the lead to 6-0 with an RBI double.
In the final chance for the Charge, Osterman struck out the leadoff batter Kazuki Watanabe to get things going. She then got Kahley Novak to pop up to third for the second out of the inning. Kaitlyn Richardson reached on an error to bring Nadia Taylor to the plate. Osterman put the exclamation point on her phenomenal night with her thirteenth and final strikeout of the evening.
Wiggins, hitting in the leadoff spot tonight, went 2-2 with a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Kretschman followed that up in the second spot of the order, going 2-4 with a home run, double, and 3 RBI.
The Pride are off until Monday June 15th, where they play the first of a two-game series against the Charge starting at 8:05 EST. The games will be held at the University of Missouri, the old stomping grounds of former Mizzou pitcher Chelsea Thomas.
About USSSA Florida Pride:
The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About NPF:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
About USSSA:
USSSA is headquartered in Osceola County, Florida. USSSA is the World’s largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!
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