The rules are simple heading into this weekend’s action of the American Fastpitch Assn. “B” National softball tournament: lose two and go home.

After Friday’s game’s at Clinton Lake Softball Complex and the Youth Sports Inc. fields, two local squads remain alive, and one is making plans for a late summer vacation.

The Tonganoxie Braves started the day with a bang when pitcher Amanda Albert pitched a no-hitter against the Highland (Ohio) Hornets in a 5-0 victory.

“I just stayed with a fastball and dropball and hoped they didn’t get it,” Albert said.

The Hornets didn’t get much. Highland managed just three baserunners off two errors and a fielder’s choice.

Unfortunately for her club, the glow of Albert’s opening-game gem didn’t last long. Later in the day, she allowed seven hits in a narrow 2-1 loss to the Jefferson City (Mo.) Heat.

Shortstop Hannah Herrstrom led the way on offense and defense, lacing a triple in the third inning after gunning out two Heat runners at the plate.

“We have one heck of a defense. We just needed to get two hits together,” said Tongie coach Pat Albert, Amanda Albert’s father.

The loss might result in an all-local-team showdown between the Braves and the Lawrence Phenix’s 14-under club this afternoon at 1 p.m. at YSI — if the Phenix can defeat the (Topeka) Capital City Stars at 10 a.m. at CLSC.

The Phenix 14-under team earned its ticket for today with an 8-1 win over the (Stroud, Okla.) Dirt Divers.

Lawrence Phenix players look on late in their American Fastpitch Assn. B Nationals tournament loss. The 14-under softball squad was defeated by the Oklahoma Allstars, 9-7, Friday at the Youth Sports Inc. fields.

Both Brynn Hamilton and Livi Abney recorded inside-the-park home runs as Lawrence cruised with a total of 10 hits. Aleese Kopf went 3-for-3.

“We hit the well,” Phenix coach John Hamilton said. “Up and down the lineup, it seemed like everybody had a hit.”

The team need to win after a close 9-7 loss to the (Olkmulgee) Oklahoma Allstars, in which the Phenix managed to tie the game twice before falling in the sixth inning.

Things didn’t go as well, though, for the 16-under Phenix squad. After an 8-2 loss Friday morning to the K.C. Slammers, the Phenix came up short against the (Lathrop, Mo.) Blue Angels later.

Lawrence kept in close until the fifth inning, when the Blue Angels flew away with four runs off four hits.

The Phenix did have some success of their own at the plate with four hits, including a triple by Lisa Pearse.

“Sometimes it happens and today it didn’t,” Phenix coach Gary Tanner said. “We won a couple. We lost a couple. We just lost a couple at the wrong time, but the girls played hard.”

The double-elimination tournament continues today and Sunday, with the championship game being held at 3 p.m. at CLSC for both age groups. If a second championship game is needed, it will be played at 4:45 p.m. at CLSC.

Tonganoxie pitcher Amanda Albert fires a pitch during the Braves' 5-0 victory against the Highland (Ohio) Hornets. Albert threw a no-hitter Friday morning during the American Fastpitch Assn. B Nationals tournament at Clinton Lake Softball Complex.