National Fastpitch Tournament : Majestics Win 3 in a Row, but Lose Granger and Title

The Orange County Majestics spent most of Friday working their way through the losers’ bracket at the Women’s National Fastpitch Tournament in Pekin, Ill. Three games, three victories.

But the effort took its toll.

Playing without star pitcher Michele Granger, the Majestics lost to the Hi-Ho Brakettes of Stratford, Conn., 2-1, Friday night in the championship game.

Granger, who had won two games on Friday and six during the tournament, was unable to pitch in the title game because of a cyst on the index finger of her right hand. She said she will have the cyst removed Wednesday.

“I’ve had it for a while. It causes my hand to swell when I throw a lot of innings,” said Granger, a Valencia High School graduate. “And we played a lot of softball today (Friday).”

Because of a rainout Thursday night, the Majestics were forced to play three games on Friday before getting to the championship game. They beat the Redding Rebels, 1-0, in the loser-bracket quarterfinals, the Downers Grove (Ill.) Dolls, 3-1, in the semifinals and the California Invasion, 6-0, final.

The Majestics, the tournament’s defending champions, reached the final mostly on the arm strength of Granger, who will attend California this fall. Granger pitched a one-hitter over eight innings against Redding, striking out 18. She came back to pitch six innings, striking out 10, against the Invasion.

Lisa Fernandez then was called on to pitch the championship game.

“I was going to come in if she got into trouble,” Granger said. “But Lisa was doing a good job.”

Fernandez allowed just three hits, but two came in the sixth inning when the the Brakettes scored both their runs.

Pat Duficy led off with a single and moved to third on two passed balls. With two outs, Kris Peterson grounded to third baseman Janice Parks, who threw wildly to first, allowing Duficy to score. Liz O’Conner then doubled to score Peterson.

The Majestics rallied for one run in the top of the seventh. Suzie Brazney singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error.

Kathy Arandsen threw a one-hitter for the Brakettes, striking out nine, to gain the victory. It was the 20th time the Brakettes (79-4) have won the tournament, which began in 1947. But it was their first title since 1985 after two consecutive second-place finishes.

Granger struck out 109 batters in 43 innings during the tournament. She threw two no-hitters and set a tournament record of 18 consecutive strikeouts.