Pitching dominated in the Phenix Spring Fling tournament game Saturday at Clinton Lake Sports Complex. Phenix Finucane hurler Anna Mages pitched a shutout against the KC Slammers in the 14U division contest.

After a scoreless first inning, Phenix posted two runs in the bottom of the second. Mages scored on a wild pitch from Mo O’Connor, and the two pitchers would drift in different directions the rest of the game.

Mages continued to excel, holding the Slammers hitless throughout the final three innings and walking just two players. Mages forced six straight ground outs from the Slammers in the fourth and fifth innings, ending the game with a 5-0 victory for the Phenix.

“We just played simple ball,” Coach Bill Finucane said. “Our fundamentals were sound, and we did a good job playing through our nervousness.”

Catcher Kacie Welborn showed no signs of nerves hitting a two-run RBI single that blew the game wide open in the bottom of the third inning. Welborn came around to score on a fielder’s choice double that brought the Phenix’s run total to five.

Finucane pitcher Kylee Mader hurls the ball in the third inning of the 14U championship game of the Phenix Spring Fling Tournament. Phenix Finucane took second Sunday, falling to the Wizards 14-6.

After the game Welborn acknowledged she was known for good hitting, but downplayed her game-breaking hit.

“Teamwork was what won the game for us today,” Welborn said. “We all just really wanted this game and to start the tournament with a win.”

Teamwork, execution and fundamentals paved the way to victory for the 14U Phenix team as they held off the visiting Slammers for a statement victory as tournament hosts. The Phenix continued to make noise through the rest of the tournament as they played their way into the championship game despite losing one contest in pool play.

In the championship game, things started out fairly dismal with the Wizards taking a 3-0 lead, but brightened in the second inning when they put two runs on the board. Phenix allowed four runs to come across the plate off of throwing errors. The 7-2 deficit was hard to overcome and the Wizards took over in the fifth to win the 14U title convincingly, 14-6.

“This first tournament was a learning experience, overall I’m pretty happy with our performance as a team,” said Kylee Mayder, pitcher of the championship game.

As a fairly new team, the Phenix Finucane look to build on their tournament experience, continue to learn from each other and improve their game as the season progresses. A championship game loss this weekend could soon be a first-place trophy when the next tournament rolls around.