Galaxy glitters in Powhatan
Published 9:56 pm Thursday, November 6, 2014
![The Galaxy Fastpich 12U Red squad went 6-0 to win the National Softball Association Class “B” Fall Championship over the weekend in Powhatan. Front row, from left: Reese Byrd (Suffolk), Julie Jones (Suffolk) and Cali Hinnant (Suffolk); middle row, from left: Anya Colyer (Suffolk), Katelyn Holland, Jordyn Greene, McKenzie Presson, Karley Wetmore (Suffolk), Anni Groves (Suffolk), Aryn Kinsey (Suffolk), Sydney Adcock (Suffolk) and Peyton Penland; back row, from left: coaches Jimmy Byrd, Allen Wetmore and John Penland. (Photo submitted by Joey Holland)](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2014/11/FALL-CHAMPIONSHIP-1.jpg)
The Galaxy Fastpich 12U Red squad went 6-0 to win the National Softball Association Class “B” Fall Championship over the weekend in Powhatan. Front row, from left: Reese Byrd (Suffolk), Julie Jones (Suffolk) and Cali Hinnant (Suffolk); middle row, from left: Anya Colyer (Suffolk), Katelyn Holland, Jordyn Greene, McKenzie Presson, Karley Wetmore (Suffolk), Anni Groves (Suffolk), Aryn Kinsey (Suffolk), Sydney Adcock (Suffolk) and Peyton Penland; back row, from left: coaches Jimmy Byrd, Allen Wetmore and John Penland. (Photo submitted by Joey Holland)
The Galaxy Fastpitch 12U Red team continued its winning ways this fall by going undefeated at the National Softball Association Class “B” Fall Championship last weekend in Powhatan.
Cold and windy weather made things difficult, but the squad of mostly Suffolk girls went 3-0 on Saturday and then 3-0 in the elimination games on Sunday, pulling off a come-from-behind 5-4 win against Virginia Legends (Jones) in the championship game.
“Our team, in general, had great defense throughout (the weekend),” Galaxy 12U Red coach Allen Wetmore said. “We didn’t give up many runs throughout the whole tournament.”
The team’s bats went cold part of the time, but “we did enough to win,” Wetmore said.
Success on Saturday came, in large part, due to outstanding pitching by Suffolk girls Cali Hinnant and Reese Byrd.
Galaxy 12U Red started Sunday against the Hanover Hornets (Keys) and found itself down 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth and final inning.
Anni Groves of Suffolk singled, as did Byrd and Jordyn Greene. Sydney Adcock of Suffolk followed with a two-RBI double. Greene was tagged out at home, but the game was tied 4-4.
Suffolk’s Anya Colyer singled, and then Aryn Kinsey of Suffolk came up and hit a walk-off RBI double, giving her team a 5-4 win.
Adcock went 2-for-3 in the game.
This victory put the Galaxy 12U Red team into the semifinals against Elite 12U 03, which ended up losing 11-1.
“Our bats sort of came alive that game,” Wetmore said.
Suffolk’s Julie Jones had a single and two runs batted in, Karley Wetmore of Suffolk went 1-for-2 with an RBI, Adcock went 2-for-3 with an RBI, McKenzie Presson had a double and two RBIs and Greene went 3-for-3.
In the championship game, right fielder Peyton Penland made an important contribution to Galaxy 12U Red’s strong defensive effort.
“She made a double play in the second inning by catching a line drive and throwing it to first,” Wetmore said, adding that it successfully got the team out of the top of that inning.
Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the final inning, Galaxy 12U Red again produced some clutch offense.
Groves singled, then stole second. Byrd got on base and made it to second as Virginia Legends (Jones) tried to get Groves out at third. Then, Greene hit a ball that ended up scoring both of them to win the game.
Galaxy 12U Red has earned a berth in the NSA 12U Class “B” World Series, which will be held in July 2015.
The squad also went 3-1 in the Softball Nation Halloween Cup on Oct. 25 and 26 and currently holds a record of 25-3 overall.