Playing in Chelsea on Saturday the Birmingham Giants 03 finished 2nd, with a record of 2-2. In a tournament that featured a few first’s, Ali King became the First Lady Giant to homer out of the park, and Julia Petty became the first to strike out 10 in one game, while Olivia Renta picked up her 40th victory all time.
In the first pool play game, the Giants faced off with the always tough Eliminators 03, and after falling behind 3-0 going into the 4th inning, the Giants battled back to 3-2, but could not come any closer, and lost 3-2. Chy Barnhill (3-1)went the distance, striking out 1 and allowing just 1 hit and 2 earned runs. The Giants mustered 5 hits of their own, Chy Barnhill, Elissa Glaze (2 2b), Ali King and Lauren Dill.
In game 2 of pool play the Giants defeated the Montgomery Stars 8-6. Olivia Renta(1-1) pitched all 4 innings, scattering 7 hits, while striking out 7, a new club record, which would stand until the next game. It was Her 40th victory in a Giants uniform.
Offensively the Giants were lead by, Chy Barnhill 3(2 2b), Reese Lowery, Elissa Glaze, Ali King 1(HR), the first Giant in any group to homer over the fence, Piper Lowery (2b), Abbie Warnick, Krista Glaze.
Seeding first in their bracket the Giants faced off with the Bad News Babes. Julia Petty (6-2) pitched all 5 innings, allowing just 2 hits, walking 2, and Striking a new club record for softball, and second all time in the entire club with 10, enroute to her 6th win of the season and propelling the Giants to their second championship game of the season.
With very few big hits against the babes pitching, Whitney Goodwins sacrifice put the Giants ahead 2-0, and drove in the eventual winning run. Hits from Reese Lowery (3), Elissa Glaze (2), Ali King, Lauren Dill, Piper Lowery and Abbie Warnick (2, 1 2b) and the Giants cruised to a 6-1 win and into the championship game against the Hit Squad.
In the Championship game, the Giants fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, and never recovered. After cutting the lead to 2-1 in their half of the inning, the Giants would strand 7 hitters and give away 6 unearned runs to 9-1 and finish second.
Olivia Renta went the distance allowing just 3 earned over 4 innings, and hits from Chy Barnhill (2), Ali King and Abbie Warnick closed the book on this tournament for the Birmingham Giants 03. While striking out just 6 times in 4 games, while drawing 11 walks and Giants pitchers striking out 19 while walking just 8 the Giants returned to form in the circle.
