Intensity Softball is World Series Runner-Up

The USSSA Girls Fastpitch 14U Class C World Series Tournament took place in Kansas City, Missouri July 14-16. In the 14U Division, 40 teams representing 6 different states in the Midwest competed. The age group was split evenly, an American division and a National division tournament. The Intensity team played in the elite American division.
Intensity team members from Minden are Zoey Ellis and Megan McAlevy.
Intensity 14U softball team traveled to the tournament playing 9 games to earn the honor of USSSA 14U World Series, American Division Runner-Up. Pool play began Thursday night with Intensity losing to SEK Sluggers, Chanute, Kansas, 2-5. SEK Sluggers awarded Sydney Griess MVP honors. Next game, Intensity squared off with The Rage, Basehor, Kan., Intensity prevails to be the better team, 9-3. The winning pitcher for Intensity was Bailey Meyer. Alyssa Vanosdall with a save. Alyssa Vanosdall was awarded MVP honors by The Rage.
Friday, tournament play began. Intensity posted two wins to continue on in the winner’s bracket.  First score was 3-1, defeating Topeka Lightening Storm, Topeka, Kan. Second game score against OK Ice, Wagoner, Okla., was, 5-3. Winning pitcher in both games was Alyssa Vanosdall.
Saturday morning Intensity faced the Hot Shots from Polo, Mo., Intensity struggled in the 3rd inning, losing a 5-0 lead as Hot Shots tied it up. Moving into International Tie Breaker, 5th inning, Intensity scored two but could not hold defensively as Hot Shots win with eight runs.
Now in the loser’s bracket, Intensity had to be mentally strong to battle back and to endure the heat. They were matched with SEK Sluggers again. Sluggers jumped to a four run lead in the first inning. It appeared Intensity would have a difficult time bouncing back from their loss. In the fourth inning, Intensity’s bats came alive, scoring five runs to win. Winning pitcher, Alyssa Vanosdall.
Next team to fill the opposing dugout was the solid team of Kryptonite from St. Joseph, Mo., Intensity knew they were in for a battle.
Kryptonite scored two runs in the first with Intensity answering back with one. Intensity picked up another run in the 2nd. With the scored tied, Kryptonite pounded out four runs in the 3rd, as Intensity hung in there with another three. One run down, Intensity’s defense holds in the fourth. Last chance at bat for Intensity, Kayleigh Knudsen rips a double, followed by Sydney Griess sacrifice bunting her to third. With two outs, Bailey Meyer steps up to the plate and soundly hits a double to score Kayleigh. Game is tied with winning run on second. Darci VanWormer rises to the occasion and hits a double to score Bailey. Intensity wins 7-6. Winning pitcher, Alyssa Vanosdall.

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