Pacific Coast Girls Fastpitch Softball participates in Tustin All Star Romp Tournament

The Pacific Coast Girls Fastpitch Softball (PCGFS) All Star teams from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa combined participated in the Tustin All Star Romp Softball Tournament the weekend of June 6-8, 2008.

There were 35 teams that participated in the 8U, 10U and 12U divisions. Teams from L.A., Orange and Riverside County competed in the three day tournament. This unique PCGFS set of teams was formed from top players from both cities who competed against each other during the regular season. All divisions played in a three team pool to qualify for Sunday’s elimination rounds.

The 8U All Star team went 2-2 in the tournament. They beat Long Beach and lost to Fountain Valley in pool play. The team employed an offensive strategy that combined bunting and hitting to beat Canyon Hills 7-6 before falling to La Mirada 5-4 in the quarter finals. The 8U’s were lead by their top pitcher Sammy Del Toro, big hitters of Kendell Blanchfield and Mackensie Rose Kohl and clutch bunting by Sammy Del Toro, Kristen Allen, and Brenna Avila.

The 10U All Star team went 4-1 in tournament play. They beat Los Alamitos 5-1 and Orange Villa Park 2-1 in pool play with complete games pitched by Katherine Perry and a one-hitter from Sydney McKeown. In the quarterfinals they faced Rancho Trabuco and won 4-0 with another dominating pitching performance from Katherine Perry.

In the semi-finals they faced a dominating Santa Ana team which had also gone undefeated through all of their games. PCGFS jumped out to a 4–0 lead with hits by Riley Gerdau, Katherine Perry, a walk to Catrell Robertson, followed by hits from Courtney Leyba and Jordan Blanchfield. Santa Ana then scored four runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning to tie PCGFS. In the 3rd inning PCGFS had three straight hits scoring Katherine Perry and Sydney McKeown for a 6-4 lead. Santa Ana answered with two runs in bottom of the 4th inning to tie the game. Top of the 5th inning with Riley Gerdau and Katherine Perry on base, Sydney McKeown hit in the go ahead run. PCGFS went on to complete the upset 7–6. PCGFS used three pitchers to complete the five inning game.

In the championship game PCGFS faced a Cerritos team that has won 15 consecutive games upon entering the final game. Sydney McKeown was able to stifle the bats of Cerritos until the 4th inning where they scored two runs (one unearned) for a 2-0 lead. It was a pitcher’s dual throughout the game with Cerritos holding the lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, but PCGFS rallied to tie the game and send it into extra inning. Cerritos managed to score two runs in the top of the eight to end PCGFS hopes of a championship.

The 12U All Star team went 1-2 in tournament play. They lost against a very good Los Alamitos squad and beat Tustin in a well fought contest. In the quarterfinals they faced another tough opponent in Temecula Valley only to come up short on advancing.

Pacific Coast Girls Fastpitch Softball league serves girls from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa between the ages of 5 and 14. Please visit WWW.PCGFS.ORG for sign up information.

PHOTO: (back row, l – r) Coaches Tim Owen, Ed Leyba and Manager Mike Perry. (middle row, l – r) Head Coach Chris Migliori, Paige Migliori, Courtney Leyba, Sydney McKeown, Riley Gerdau, Katherine Perry, Catrell Robertson, Coach Troy McKeown. (front row, l – r) Kelly Owen, Sophia Mossman, Jordan Blanchfield, Danielle Walston, Juliette Johnston.