Sep 23, 2024 | Julie Donaldson | 402 views
U17 Legends Vie for Gold
The Listowel Legends U17 (Donaldson) Team got to extend their ball season a whole month after their date in August was called off due to rainy weather. With three extra exhibition games, two trips to the batting cages and diamonds these Ladies were prepared to come and play their best on September 14th and 15th.
It was a very early start in the Exeter park as we gathered at 7 AM to warm up for our first game vs Innerkip. McCutcheon threw the first pitch at 8 AM and Innerkip took the lead quick in the first inning with a 2-0 lead. McCutcheon threw hot the second inning, striking all three batters out herself. Smith started the rally for Listowel with the first hit of the game at the top of the 2nd, and the girls managed to steal 2 home. With a tied game, we entered the top of the third. The team put two out in the first three batters but then the tides changed as Innerkip succeeded the maximum 7 runs in. Zyta first up to bat in the bottom of the third managed to drive a single, and William’s keen eye walked her down to first. Donaldson then blistered a homerun bringing in all 3 of them. With Vaughan and Freeman now on base with a keen eye, Newton singled a fly ball to right scoring in 2RBI. McCutcheon line drove a ball to centre scoring in Newton and the girls fought back with another 6 runs closing the gap by just 1. Donaldson now on the mound in relief started the fourth with two strikeouts, only facing four batters and allowing one run in. Bottom of the fourth, Zyta opened bats with a solid single, followed by her team mate Donaldson. Zyta scored home on a passed ball. Vaughan now at the plate, also connected strong single sending Donaldson home and tying the game 10-10. Top of the 5th Donaldson held strong on the mound striking the first batter out while the next two batters were quickly put out on first. 3 up, 3 down. Time was called for the game so we were entering our last at bat and last chance to secure a win. Newton started the inning powering through the infield with a line drive single. McCutcheon made it safe to base on balls and it was Taylor that connected the victorious single hard past short, scoring Newton home and helping her team secure the win! 11-10!
Game two we were facing the first placed team for the year, Exeter2. We were first at bat and very quickly closed with 3 up 3 down. Exeter came to play and succeeded 3 hits and 3 runs in despite McCutcheon's strong start on the mound and striking all 3 outs herself. Top of the second Listowel answered back. Williams began on base with a keen eye and Donaldson connected with the sweet spot again for a triple and scoring our first run in. Smith followed suit splintering a homerun and scoring 2 more runs! Vaughan secured first base on balls and Freeman grounded a ball hard to 3rd. King then flustered Exeter with a hard hit ball, allowing her two teammates to score. Listowel took the lead 5-3. McCutcheon was on fire and hurled in 3 more strike outs to close the inning quickly on Exeter. Donaldson hit a fly ball to center & made her way to 3rd but unfortunately Exeter closed the inning with 3 strikeouts of their own and then answered back with 3 runs against us taking the lead 6-5. Top of the fourth Newton singled up the middle while McCutcheon hit her home tying the game 6-6. Donaldson now pitching in relief quickly closed the bottom of the fourth with 3 up, 3 down. Although Donaldson and Smith connected with hard singles in the top of the 5th, Exeter held them up on base and closed the inning, followed by securing two more runs in the bottom of the inning taking the lead 8-6. King started our bats off strong with a solid single followed by an exciting homerun hammered by Mcutcheon now tying the game 8-8, but Exeter held us at that. Now we had to hold them… Donaldson struck two batters out, and Exeter only had one single base hit - but unfortunately she managed to steal home to win the game. 9-8 for Exeter.
We were hoping to win that second game to secure the bye on to Sunday but we ended up in a third game facing our Hometown sister-team in a game we didn’t want to face. This game meant one of the Listowel teams would move on and the other would have to go home. All were feeling the length of the day already and the intense heat in the sun. With an abundance of base hits and doubles, stolen bases and tight defenses including a double play and strong pitching dynamics - this group of girls secured their place onto Sunday morning with a 19-10 win.
Back in the ball park bright and early for a pregame warm-up to come together and face once again the first place team Exeter2. This team has now faced Exeter2 on three occasions and all three games were lost by 1 run…. But this game was do or die! And WOW - did these girls show up to earn their spot to play for Gold! McCutcheon started her birthday off at the plate and set the game’s tone with a strong double and then managed to score herself home. She then took to the mound and closed Exeter down quickly with her teammates after facing only four batters. Top of the second Smith secured a solid double and Vaughan scored her home with a sacrifice fly. Newton succeeded a line drive single to centre and McCutcheon hit an RBI single scoring Newton home. McCutcheon on the mound again and solid defense behind her once again shut Exeter down facing only 4 batters. Top of the 3rd Listowel came alive! Zyta’s keen eye earned her first base and Williams smashed a ball out to center field to send Zyta home. Vaughan and Freeman carefully watched to be given their base and loaded our bases. Newton grounded a hard RBI single. Vaughan’s smart base running got her to cross the plate on a steal, while King drove another run in. McCutcheon once again connected with the ball perfectly to slam a homerun scoring 3 more runs in and closing the inning with our max runs alloted. The score was now 10-0 as we headed to the bottom of the 3rd. Exeter did manage to secure two runs and then quickly shut us down in the top of the fourth. But Listowel did the same in return, shutting Exeter down with no runs in the bottom of the fourth too. Top of the 5th, Smith and Vaughan both landed hard singles and Freeman came in swinging, smashing her first homerun of the weekend. King hit a line drive to secure first and 3 more base on balls sent another home before ending the inning. The game now 14-2. Donaldson took the mound in relief but Listowel began to drop the ball - literally… that Exeter did manage to score 5 runs in. McCutcheon came back in to close the inning. Smith's bats were humming as she began the inning with another double followed by Vaughan securing first on a HPB. Freeman too, had bats blazing as she smashed her second homerun of the game once again scoring another 3RBIs! The game ended at the top of the 6th, with a well earned 17-8 win over Exeter. A triumphant win for the team as they finally conquered a game against the first placed team, sending them home and winning the opportunity to play for Gold!
For the A Division Gold Medal Game we met Fullarton on the Diamond. Our first at bat Taylor laid a perfect bunt to get on base and Zyta singled as well but Fullarton managed to shut us down without scoring either home. Fullarton's first at bat secured a solo homerun but McCutcheon on the mound and her team behind her quickly shut the next 3 batters down. Top of the second Smith started a rally with a hard single followed by Newton hitting our first run in, tying the game up 1-1. McCutcheon hurled the ball amazingly literally striking the first 4 batters out however, two managed to steal to first base and unfortunately 3 runs came in against us. Fullarton now in the lead 4-1. In the top of the 3rd, Fullarton managed to quickly shut us down and so now Donaldson took to the mound. On another error, Fullarton brought the first at bat in, but Listowel’s team defenses pulled back together shutting the next 3 batters down. The Top of the 4th, Vaughan started the inning off with a keen eye to secure first base, and Freeman connected for an RBI double. Then Newton and King consecutively landed an RBI single each closing the gap 5-4 for Fullarton. Unfortunately with a few more fielding errors, Fullarton rallied as well in the 4th and succeeded in 3 more runs, closing the 4th with 8-4. The 5th inning both teams shut each other down with no runs scored. Top of the 6th, Listowel rallied again. Smith pop flied for a single, Vaughn reached base on balls and Freeman landed another RBI double! Newton walked, and King hit a hard RBI single. McCutcheon then cranked a triple bringing two more teammates home now tying the score up again 8-8! Fullarton answered back yet again bringing in 2 more runs and taking the lead in the bottom of the 6th 10-8. On the the top of the 7th and Listowel’s last chance to turn score around. Zyta ripped a double to start us off and Donaldson Hit her home… but unfortunately Fullarton quickly struck out the next couple of batters and closed us down securing their Gold victory of 10-9. A back and forth intense gold medal game!
This Listowel team finished in 5th position for the season… but made it into the A Division and with real team togetherness, tight defenses, amazing solid hits by all ten rostered players, and every single player contributing and cheering each other on - they came to play for Gold and wore their Silver Medals home proudly!
As coaches we hope to have a roster of players eager to listen, learn, develop and grow individually and as a team as well as be a positive support to each other. This amazing group of ladies - proved they had something to give to themselves and each other! Congratulations on a great season! (and thank you!!)