Effingham Flame Captures Second At NSA State Softball Tournament

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Published on July 8 2015 7:08 am
Last Updated on July 8 2015 7:08 am
Written by Millie Lange

The Effingham Flame finished second at the NSA State Softball Tournament.

The Effingham Flame 16U girls softball team competed last weekend in the NSA State softball tournament in Peoria. The 16's finished second out of 26 teams, with wins over East Peoria Express, Charleston Chill, The Aftershock, Peoria Irish, Rock City Sluggers, and losing twice to the Central Il. Diamonds.

This year's team members included, Alexis Sullivan, Hannah Dulaney, Jenna Wright, Kaylee Tonn, Morgan Brown, Olivia Hickey, Jessica Drees, Aly Armstrong, Summer Johnson, Samantha Johnson, Grace Amburgey, Sidney Brumleve, Ashley Goeckner, Alyssa Kersey, and Nicole Riley. Coaches are Lindsay and Troy VanBlaricum.

In game one against the East Peoria Express, the Flame jumped out to a 3-0 lead, by scoring three in the second adding one in the sixth and then two more in the seventh for a 6-0 Win. The Flame were led in hitting by Hickey with three singles, an RBI and a run scored. Others with multiple hits were Tonn with a double and a single, Brown with two singles, and others with hits were Sullivan, Wright, Drees, Armstrong, Su. Johnson and Sa. Johnson, all with singles and Amburgey picking up an RBI. Armstrong picked up the win, allowing just four hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

In game two the Flame took on the Charleston Chill winning 8-1. Amburgey picked up the win going six innings, giving up one run on seven hits, striking out two while walking just two. The Flame were led in hitting by Brown with a single, double and one RBI, Drees with two singles and Armstrong with two singles. Others with hits were Sullivan and Tonn with a single apiece.

In game three, the Flame Beat the Aftershock 8-0 in five innings with Armstrong picking up the win with Amburgey throwing the final inning. Armstrong threw four scoreless innings giving up just two hits walking one and striking out nine. Amburgey in relief had one strikeout. Hits for the Flame: Dulaney with two singles Wright with a double, Brown with a single and double, Su. Johnson with a double and a single, Drees a single, followed by Hickey and Armstrong, both with singles.

in the Flame's fourth game of the weekend they played the Peoria Irish, winning 5-3. the Flame took a 2-0 lead in the first and never surrendered the lead. Leading the Flame in hitting were Sa. Johnson with two singles and a run scored, Sullivan two singles, Dulaney with two singles, Armstrong with a double and a single, Wright, Drees, Amburgey and Tonn, all with singles. Armstrong went the distance for the win giving up the three runs on just four hits striking out 10 while walking just one.

In game five of the weekend, the Flame were matched up against the only other team without a loss, the Central IL Diamonds. The Flame got off to a rough start giving up three runs in the top of the first and could not get anything going to push more than the two runs across, losing the game 5-3. Armstrong picked up the loss giving up five runs on seven hits, striking out just three while walking six. The Flame were able to scatter seven hits of their own, doubles by Sullivan and Armstrong, and singles by Hickey with two, Tonn and Sa. Johnson with one each.

In game six, the Flame dropped to the loser's bracket where they took on the Rock City Sluggers out of the Quad City area winning 5-4, highlighted by a two run homer by Wright in the fifth to break up a 3-3 tie. The Sluggers added one in the top of the sixth but couldn't get any closer. The Flame managed five runs on nine hits while drawing three base on balls. Others with a big game were Drees with a single, double and a run scored. Dulaney with two singles, Wright a single to go with the homer, Tonn with a double, Armstrong a single, and Hickey with a single. Armstrong bounced back and picked up the win for the Flame going six innings giving up four runs on 11 hits striking out two and walking four.

In the next game, the Flame made their way back to play the still unbeaten Central IL Diamonds Team. The Flame jumped out with a run in the first and another in the second before giving up three in the fourth and suffered the loss 3-2. Although throwing a good game, Amburgey picked up the loss for the Flame, going the distance, allowing the three runs on just five hits while striking out five and walking none. The Flame were able to put together seven hits on their way to scoring their two runs, all single off the bats of Dulaney, Tonn, Armstong, Hickey, Sa. Johnson and Su. Johnson with two singles.

The 16U Flame finish up their season in Mattoon at the Bagel Fest Tournament July 17-19 and with a trip to the NSA World Series in Hamilton County In. July 20-24.