Valley Extreme splits in tourney

By Mark W. Miller

The Cortland team advanced to play the Central PA Krunch Red this morning in Boardman.

BOARDMAN — Having eliminated Valley Rage 3-0 to earn a Sweet 16 berth early Wednesday morning at the Cortland Field of Dreams, Valley Extreme had high expectations about its chances in the Pony 12-and-under girls national fastpitch softball tournament.

But Valley Extreme, based in Cortland, then lost to the West Haven Connecticut CT Charmers 13-2 in four innings later in the morning.

The Extreme are young — seven of the 10 girls are 11 years old — and Coach Rick Casassa said the girls were happy and excited about making the Sweet 16.

Valley Extreme will play a single-elimination contest against Central PA Krunch Red at 9 a.m. today at Boardman’s Fields of Dreams.

“We were playing for bracket position that second game,” said Casassa. “They [CT Charmers] are a real nice team with good pitching, defense, hitting and have a shot at winning it all.”

Coach Jim Walker of Valley Rage said he had 12 kids on his roster. Three are 10 years old and five have been playing together since they were 9. The Rage had won three tournaments this season.

Paige Kiraly (3-0) pitched a complete game three-hitter with seven strikeouts to pick up the win for Valley Extreme against the Rage, who hail from Beaver Falls. Shaw put her team out in front 1-0 in the first inning when she walked, advanced to second and third on wild pitches and scored on an error.

Amber Affagato, leading off the third inning, singled, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and raced home on a passed ball.

Amanda Scott doubled to lead off the fifth inning, moved to third on a passed ball and raced home on a single by Affagato.

Valley Rage, with two out in the sixth inning, loaded the bases, but a groundout ended the contest.

In the second game, CT Charmers (4-0) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a walk, stolen base, doubles by Kristen Post and Danielle Demarco and a single by Giuliana Dorangelo.

Valley Extreme answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning on a pair of singles, a passed ball and a double by McKenzie Garland.

The Charmers came right back with two runs in the second inning, then broke the game open with five more in the third and three in the fourth.

Demarco also hit a home run, while Feleica Lennon, Kayla Humphrey, Post and Kelsey Austin each hit doubles in the 12-hit attack. Austin also hit two singles.

Kiraly hit a pair of singles for Valley Extreme.