July 27, 2012 — After winning the NSA state tournament, the EKY Frenzy 8U squad took its show on the road to Johnson City, TN, for the Future Stars of Sports World Series.
Two up and two down was the way the frenetic tide rolled for the Frenzy, as it made another impressive showing, taking home fourth place overall in the tournament.
After rain delays forced all opening round games to be moved to Thursday, the Frenzy battled the Tribe out of Indiana.
A back and forth affair took place in the first inning as each team put up one run apiece. In the following inning, the EKY girls batting cycle went into frenzy.
With two outs and their backs against the wall, Sydney Hallock, Bethany Sergent, Kasey Kimbler, Maleigh McDaniel, Haven Ford and Emily Hacker responded for the Frenzy, putting together six straight hits to put up four runs.
The Tribe then proved they were no pushovers by answering back with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
In the third Caskey and Melton had back-to-back hits to lead off the inning and put the Frenzy up another run. Tribe went down 123 in its third at bat, while the Frenzy girls added another run in the fourth and fifth inning before making a defensive stance to pick up the 8-5 victory.
EKY Frenzy Head Coach Jack McDaniel said he was happy to see his girls fight hard in a tournament with some of the nation’s best.
“We had a blast from the moment we arrived, and the girls played solid softball against some of the best competition,” McDaniel said. “Overall, we want these girls to have a good time and improve their game. As a coach, I am proud to say that they did both of those things while they were in this World Series.
After nearly two months with little to no rain, the elements once again kicked inas all of the games for the 8U were moved from Friday to Satruday due to dampened field conditions.
The Frenzy’s second game against the Indiana Shockers turned out to be quick decision, with the local team plating three runs in the first by way of four straight hits from Kimbler, McDaniel, Ford and Hacker.
Kylie Griggs, Hallock, Sergent and Kimbler added another four hits to open the second, before Ford, Hacker, Kaelan Frazier, Caskey and Kessaney Melton compile another five hits to allow six total Frenzy runs in the sixth.
The Shockers notched its lone run in the second, as EKY once again put on a defensive stranglehold. Ford helped lead the way in the infield, making numerous outs by shutting down the middle from the pitchers position to help lead the Frenzy to the 11-1 win.
McDaniel and his team went on to grab a fourth place finish after fighting valiantly to fall just short in their last two games, ending another successful season for the girls in pink and blue.
“Again I am very proud of this squad,” McDaniel said. “They have had two straight big weekends, grabbing a state title, and fourth in the Future Stars World Series. This is an outstanding group of young ladies and a great team to be apart of. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to coach them this season. They worked very hard to get where they are, and again, I would like to congratulate my girls on an outstanding effort and unbelievably proud of all of them.”
Grant Stevens can be reached at gstevens@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.
