Archive for Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Phenix gain experience despite defeat
High level of competition pushes 12-U team to learn the game
June 22, 2005
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Every team encounters its share of challenges through a season.
The obstacles that Phenix-Asher, a 12-U softball team in its second year under coach Kristy Asher, are overcoming require one thing: experience.
For many of the team's players, this is their first year playing in the Phenix organization and in weekend tournaments. This is the second year for most of the players on the team to see live pitching. Some started playing kid-pitch last year in the Lawrence Girls Fast Pitch Assn.
Asher said the more-experienced players have helped the new players come around quickly this season, but it was not enough last weekend at the Wham Bam Slam American Fastpitch Association National Qualifier Tournament.
Getting accustomed to kid-pitch softball in the 12-U age group may mean that the team comes up on the losing end like it did in an opening-round 8-1 loss Saturday to the Topeka Flames at Clinton Lake Sports Complex. But it also meant that the teammates had a chance to turn their shortcomings into learning opportunities and to help develop skills that pay off in future games.
"We made a few plays that were pretty tough plays," Asher said.
Carli Dankenbering's defensive play behind the plate included a remarkable fly ball grab in foul territory.
"She is pretty much our backbone," Asher said.
A lack of offense was one reason Asher thinks her team suffered the early tournament loss.
Video
Game looks at the Lawrence competitive softball action at the American Fastpitch Association's Wham Bam Slam tournament. Enlarge video
"This morning we were not awake," Asher said. "Our bats were pretty dead. We are just in a situation where we are facing some tough competition."
Olivia Brietenbach's bat showed life in the fourth inning when she took a ball to deep left field. Unfortunately, the attempt to stretch a double into a triple led to Brietenbach being thrown out at third.
After being stranded on third earlier in the game, Paige Rothwell got another chance to score when she got on base with a walk. She beat the throw to second for a stolen base and found herself in scoring position. A Chelsea Turk single drove Rothwell in for the team's only run.
Asher said the players on her team handled the loss in different ways.
"Some girls look for revenge in the next game, some try to better themselves by hitting in the cages or taking batting practice between games," she said.
Phenix-Asher finished fourth in pool play and lost the first two games in the double-elimination bracket.
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