The Birmingham Giants 02 playing in the USSSA state tournament brought home their 8th trophy of their 2014 campaign on Saturday, October 18. Posting a 4-2 mark on the day, the Giants dropped their first and last contests of the day to finish 2nd. In a tournament that featured, a No Hitter, a 3 extra inning game, perhaps the biggest change for the Giants was a 60 hit attack that lead to the Giants out scoring their opponents 48-16 on the day.
The Giants opened the tournament against LC Pride, from Moulton. In what has become their trend as of late, the Giants came out of the gates sluggish and fell behind 3-1 after 3 innings. The Giants pitching behind Olivia “Big Game Bob” Renta (11-5) held off the Pride , but Giant Misque’s left the Giants short, and they fell 5-4.
Offensively the Giants were lead by Chy Barnhill (1,3b), Lauren Cabiness (1), Elissa Glaze (1), Hadley Andrews (1), and Olivia Renta (2, 3b).
In game 2, an agitated Giants team took the Field against an over matched LC Elite. the Giants sent 18 hitters to the plate and scored 14 runs, in the first inning, and went on to score 19 in the game. Offensively the Giants attack was paced by Chy Barnhill (3), Elissa Glaze (3, 2b), Ka’Mya Hampton (1,3b), Hadley Andrews (2), Kim Livingston (3), Kinley Hall (1), Mollie Freeman (1), Blakely Burr (2).
The Game defensively went equally as well, as the Giants threw the 7th no hitter in Giants History, a combined no hitter, between Blakely Burr (6-3), and Chy Barnhill.
The Giants seated as a 3 seed in bracket play, and faced off with Fury. The scrappy fury
team, jumped on a few Giant mistakes early a scored 4 runs in the first inning. The Giants showed their character, and got busy at the plate, scoring 5 runs on 6 hits in their half of the first, to take the lead, that they would not again relinquish. Olivia Renta went the distance on the mound, not allowing a hit after the first inning, and the Giants defense shut the fury down enroute to a 10-5 victory.
The Giants offense mounted a 15 hit attack, lead by Chy Barnhill (3), Lauren Cabiness (1), Elissa Glaze (1, 3b), Ka’Mya Hampton (2, 2b), Hadley Andrews (2), Kim Livingston (2), Kinley Hall (2), and Olivia Renta (2).
Next up for the Giants was the top overall seed, the North East Alabama Slammers. The Giants, hitting first scored 1 run in the first, 4 in the second, 1 in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th, totaling 10, which was more than enough for Blakely Burr, who went the distance, allowing just 2 hits, walking none, and striking out 5. The game ended on a spectacular catch in right field by Ka’Mya Hampton.
This time an 11 hit attack paced the Giants, lead by Ka’Mya Hampton (2), Elissa Glaze (2), Hadley Andrews (2), Kim Livingston (2), Mollie Freeman (1), Blakely Burr (1,3b), and Olivia Renta (1), and the Giants cruised to an easy 10-1 win.
The Giants moved on to face an old foe, the Cobras. In a game that would go 3 extra innings, the Giants would prevail 5-3. Olivia Renta went the distance on the mound, allowing just 4 hits , while walking none, picking up her 11th victory of the fall season. The Cobras played the Giants tough, and thanks to a tremendous effort by their 3rd baseman, they were able to keep the game close. The game included great plays on both sides, one of which was a rare unassisted ground ball out to right field, recorded by Ka’Mya Hampton.
Offensively the Giants were lead by Hadley Andrews (1), Elissa Glaze (2), Kim Livingston (1), Kinley Hall (1,2b), Mollie Freeman (1), Olivia Renta (1,2b).
The Giants as they have done each of their last 3 tournaments moved into the championship round to meet a team the had beaten 5 of 6 times in the spring, and shut out in their previous 5 meetings, a scoreless streak that had reached 18 innings, the Cleats. The Giants came out of the gates again sluggish and surrendered 2 unearned runs in the first inning, and fell behind 2-0. After the first inning not another cleat reached 2nd base, as Olivia Renta and the Giant defense shut down the Cleat offense with 6 straight outs recorded on ground ball outs in the infield.
Out hitting the cleats 5-1 the Giants were only able to break through on a double by Olivia Renta that scored Mollie Freeman. Offensively the Giants were lead by Hadley Andrews (1), Ka’Mya Hampton (1), Mollie Freeman (1), Blakely Burr(1), Olivia Renta (1,2b).
The Giants still have not allowed an earned run to the cleats in 21 innings, but a first inning with 2 unearned runs cost the Giants a 2-1 game and the Giants finished 2nd. This was the organizations 6th trip to the state championship, and have finished 2nd each time.
The 02 Giants next play on October 25th in Centerville.
