The saying, Defense wins Championships has never rung truer than this weekend with the Birmingham Lady Giants. Allowing just 5 runs in 5 games, while posting 3 shutouts along the way, the Giants defense was absolutely stellar, posting 3 shutouts along the way to their 4th championship of the season. The Lady Giants are now 23-18 on the season.
In a weekend lead by defense the Birmingham Lady Giants allowed just 5 runs (4 earned) runs in 5 games, including a scoreless inning streak of 11 innings and 3 straight shutouts on the way to their 4th tournament win of the season and a 23-17 in class mark.
In game 1 of pool play, the Giants faced a tough 20 win Venom team. Right from the first pitch Olivia Renta (17-13) and the Giant defense set the tone for the day. Renta allowed just 1 unearned run and got 3 infield assists from Mollie Freeman, and hits from Lauren Cabiness (2b), Mollie Freeman, and Olivia Renta and the Giants had a 3-1 win.
In game 2, the Lady Giants suffered their only loss of the day, 4-2 to Synergy. In a game where the Giants would allow their last runs for the day, the Giants could muster only 3 hits (Abby Kellogg, Lauren Cabiness, Cassi Williams) .
To start bracket play, the Lady Giants were matched with the Sidewinders Blackout, a team they had beaten their previous 2 meetings. Olivia Renta allowed just 2 hits, while striking out 5 over 5 innings , for the first of 3 straight shutouts. Offensively the Giants were lead by (Mollie Freeman, Kim Livingston, Kinley Hall(2b), Hadley Andrews, Elizabeth Wheat) and the Giants had a 2-0 victory and a birth in the semi finals against the Cleats.
In a game shortened by weather the Giants again posted another shutout over 4 innings, and hits from Maci Harris, Abby Kellogg, Lauren Cabiness, Kim Livingston, and Hadley Andrews and the Giants had another victory 1-0, and their 4th over the cleats this season.
In the finals, a game shortened by rain, the Giants were awarded a 1-0 victory, their 23rd of the season.
Despite going 1-2 with a shortened line up the Birmingham Giants 14a Boys team lost out in bracket play 5-4 in 7 innings, and was superb defensively as well after the first game, winning 5-3, and losing 5-4. The Giants are now 6-6 on the year.
In game one of pool play the 14u Giants struggled to throw the ball, and beaten 11-2 by the War Hawks, managing just 1 hit by Noah Hathorn.
In a turn around for the ages, the Giants next met the Mountain Brook freshman team in the second game of pool play. 3 strong innings from Quenton Kersey, and 3 more from Noah Hathorn kept the Phalanx hitters at bay through 6 innings. Hits from Quenton Kersey, Noah Hathorn (2b), Ethan Thrasher, Tyler Miller, Jamie Rainer, and 2walks and 2 runs from Hunter Garcia, the biggest hit being a 2out, 2 strike walk off double from Noah Hathorn and the Giants left with a 5-3 victory.
In their first game of bracket play, the Giants faced the Fort Payne Wildcats. In one of the better games of the tournament, the Giants fell 5-4 in 7 innings. Quenton Kersey went 7 strong innings in the loss, and had a single, 2 hits from Noah Hathorn, and 1 from Stone Favrot lead the way offensively. The Giants record now stands at 6-6.
