Making their 2017 season debut, the Birmingham Giants 04 posted a 4-2 mark, on their way to a second place finish. This was their first tournament since completing their first fall season at 19-9. After dropping their opening game, 5-0, Giants pitching allowed just 2 earned runs through 3 innings in the loss. At the plate, the Giants managed just 1 hit from Jayla Hansen in the loss. In game 2 of the 4 game pool play, the Giants faced off with the Bomb Squad. Jenna York(1-0) tossed her second no hitter as a Giant, allowing just 1 base runner through 3 innings, while striking out 5. At the plate, the Giants offense needed just 2 hits ( Jayla Hansen (3b), and Alyssa Faircloth (1b), but were issued 8 walks to pace their 8-0 win. Next up for the Giants were the 04 Twisters. Claire Laubenthal (1-0) took the circle to make her first start for the Birmingham Giants, allowing just 1 hit over 3 innings, while striking out 3, in the 7-0 win. At the plate Giant hits came from Jayla Hansen (3b), Jenna York (2, 1 2b), Nattie Miles (2), Taylor Mancone (1), and Abby Barger (1, 2b) and Mikayla Cardwell recorded the final put out the set the Giants with a 2-1 mark.
In their 4th game of pool play, the Giants faced off with the Undertakers. Raegan Thrasher(1-0) made her first start of the season, pitching 3 innings, allowing 2 hits and no runs while striking out 2. At the plate Alyssa Faircloth (1), Abby Barger (1), Nattie Miles (1), and Taylor Mancone (1) all had hits for the Giants and Kalea Hewitt walked and scored for the Giants in the 5-0 win. The win seated the Giants 2nd going into bracket play.
Their first bracket play game, marked a rematch with Gold coast, the team that had defeated the Giants earlier in the day. Alyssa Faircloth made her 2nd start, pitching all 3 innings allowing 1 hit, and 2 runs, while striking out 6. Offensively the Giants were paced by Calir Laubenthal (1), Taylor Mancone (1), Nattie Miles (2B), Sarah Williams (1), and Raegan Thrasher (2b) and to plate the Giants 5 runs in the 5-2 win. The win moved the Giants into the championship game to face High speed.
In the Championship game, the Birmingham Giants 04 did what 4 previous Giants teams have done, lost a no hitter. Alyssa Faircloth tossed 3 no hit innings, striking out 3, but 4 unearned runs in the last inning did the Giants in, 4-3. Jenna York (1), and Raegan Thrasher (1) had hits for the Giants, but the Giants stranded 5 runners to come up short, finishing 2nd.
The Giants play again Saturday.
