A 10-run explosion in the second inning helped land the U.S. Armed Forces the Women's Open Slow Pitch National title. In a 16-6 win (five innings) over Derby Girls/Combat/Softball.com, each member of the Armed Forces recorded a hit as the team totaled for 18 hits during their offensive fueled victory in Sunday's Championship Game. The Armed Forces finished the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record while hitting .573 as a team.
The Armed Forces struck big in the second inning, plating 10 runs in the second on a three triples, two singles and a sac fly. Tournament MVP April Ortenzo was red hot for the Armed Forces, racking up three RBI on two hits for the Armed Forces. She doubled in the first inning and tripled in the third inning.
Derby Girls looked to mount a comeback in the third inning as three runs would cross the plate, but the Armed Forces would tack on another five runs in the bottom half of the frame to extend their lead. Down to their final at-bat, Derby Girls loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth, but the Armed Forces defense held strong to get a double play before a groundout to the third baseman brought the game to a close.
Derby Girls earned a spot in the Championship Game after defeating the Askarben Skers 15-4 (six innings) earlier in the day.
First Team All-Americans
IF- April Ortenzo - U.S. Armed Forces
IF- Kami Marrott - Derby Girls/Combat
IF- Marjorie Mills - U.S. Armed Forces
IF- Erika Citron - U.S. Armed Forces
IF- Victoria Pzsyk - U.S. Armed Forces
OF- Stefanie Watt - Derby Girls/Combat
OF- Miranda Sanderson - U.S. Armed Forces
OF- Holly Leiter - Derby Girls/Combat
OF- Teresa Herring - U.S. Armed Forces
UT- Tara Salcedo - Derby Girls/Combat
UT- Abby Beach - Askarben Skers
UT- Bri Benesh - Derby Girls/Combat
UT- Christan Dowling - Derby Girls/Combat
UT- Ashley Tarver - Lady MVP
P- Krystal Cavette - U.S. Armed Forces
Batting Champion – April Ortenzo - U.S. Armed Forces
Home Run Champion – Christan Dowling - Derby Girls/Combat - 3
Tournament MVP – April Ortenzo - U.S. Armed Forces