Ice battle at World Series
Candi Allison/courtesy photo<br> Members of the Columbia Basin Ice pose for a team picture while competing in the National Softball Association Youth Western World Series last month in Snohomish, Wash.
SNOHOMISH, Wash. — The first-year 14U Columbia Basin Ice fastpitch softball team entered the double-elimination phase of the National Softball Association Youth Western World Series last month as a lower seed and immediately proceeded to knock off No. 2 seeded SFC Venom by a score of 6-5.
The Ice lost to the Venom in the seeding round by a score of 7-3. Pitcher Zhana Chandler had six strikeouts and scattered seven hits in the win.
After a set back against the Moses Lake Rage, the young Ice team bounced back to defeat the Snohomish Shock 5-4 behind a nine-hit offensive output. Pitcher Kim Bullis struck out seven and allowed six hits in the win.
In the fourth game, the Ice went toe to toe with the eventual second-place finisher Abbotsford Outlaws. This turned out to be one of the most exciting games of the tourney, but a heartbreaker for the Ice as the two teams slugged it out and ended up in a 7-7 tie after the game’s time limit expired.
The Ice led 7-5 going into the final inning of regulation play, but the Outlaws were able to get runners on with a single and a double by the first two batters. With two outs and runners on second and third, a double was hit to score two and tie up the game.
In the first tiebreaker both teams scored to keep the game tied at 8-8, but in the second tiebreaker the Outlaws scored on a sacrifice fly to center field.
In the bottom of the inning with Cheyenne Field on third, the Ice were unable to put the ball in play, leaving Field stranded.
The Ice left seven runners on base and the Outlaws held on 9-8.