The Windsor Wildcats¹ U-16 squad saved its best softball of the
summer campaign until the final weekend, as the ladies brought home
the championship trophy in a tournament in Vallejo on August
19-20.
The U-16 ŒCats had been knocking at the door in posting a pair
of second place finishes in earlier outings this summer, and
finished the campaign winning nine of its last 10 games. As it
turned out, it was just a matter of time before they broke through
for a tournament victory.
The Wildcats won four of five games played in Vallejo last
weekend, as they defeated the East Bay Bat Busters (6-4, 9-5),
Benicia Outlaws (4-2, 5-4) and the San Jose Renegades (10-1).
³We¹ve been pretty close all summer, but we finally put it all
together in this tournament,² said coach Rob Kulczewski, who is
assisted by Scott Anderton and Darren Barnes. ³We got solid
pitching, had a lot of girls on base and were able to drive them in
with some big hits.²
Windsor opened the tournament against the East Bay Bat Busters,
as pitcher Aimee Nealon fired five innings of three-hit ball to
post the 6-4 win. Down 4-1 in the fourth inning, the Wildcats
exploded for five runs to lift the team to victory. Top hitters
were: Lauren Hunt (2 for 3, run), Jamie Burgess (2 for 2, 2 runs),
Ariel Natale (1 for 3, run), Hilary Kulczewski (1 for 2, 2B, 3
RBIs) and Nealon (1 for 2, 2 RBIs).
Cassie Petersen climbed the hill against Benecia in game two,
going six innings, scattering seven hits and fanning three in a 4-2
win. Swinging hot bats for Windsor were: Jenny Anderton (1 for 3, 2
runs), Kerissa Catania (1 for 2, 2 RBIs) and Stacy Barnes (2 for 3,
RBI).
It was all Wildcats on Saturday afternoon against the Renegades,
as Anderton tossed four innings of two-hit ball while fanning three
in a 10-1 romp. Leading hitters were: Catania (2 for 2, 2 2Bs, 4
RBIs), Natale (2 for 3, 3 runs), Burgess (1 for 2, 2 runs) and
Kulczewski (1 for 2, 3 RBIs).
The ŒCats were the top seeded team on Sunday, as they faced
Benicia in a rematch. Petersen was in command, firing five innings,
yielding six hits while striking out two in winning a 4-2 decision.
Leading way on offense were: Burgess (2 for 2, 3B, 2 runs),
Kulczewski (2 for 2, 2 RBIs), Barnes (2 for 2, RBI), Anderton (1
for 2, RBI) and Karissa McKelvey (1 for 2, RBI).
The win set up the title game rematch against the Bat Busters,
as Anderton tossed six strong innings, allowed seven hits and
fanned six to notch a 9-5 win. The offensive firepower was supplied
by: Burgess (2 for 4, 3 runs), Catania (2 for 4, 3 RBIs), Hunt (1
for 4, 3B, 2 RBIs), Kulczewski (1 for 2, 3B, 2 RBIs) and Kaitlyn
Silva (1 for 2, RBI).
