The Cody Pride 12U girls will complete a busy and competitive fast pitch softball season by competing in the American Softball Association (ASA) Wyoming State Tournament in Casper this weekend. Opening ceremonies for the State ASA event are scheduled for Thursday evening (July 9, 2015) at 7:00 PM at the Natrona County High School Football Field in Casper. Pool play to determine seeding will begin on Friday with bracket competition extending through Sunday afternoon.

Winners of four (4) of their last seven (7) games, the group of 11 and 12 year olds appear to be peaking at the right time as they carry momentum into the State tournament. Cody Pride returns all eleven (11) players off of last year’s State championship team in the 10U recreational division. Allison Edwards (#7), Kinley Bollinger (#23), Emily Egger (#9), Kamden Harris (#2), and A’din Ringel (#8) have moved up to the 12U squad while Jayci Ervin (#10), Riley Simone (#17), Hudson Selk (#11) Jayma Tuttle (#21), Katie Brasher (#00), and Ecylia Wright (#4) will return to defend their title in the 10U division.

The Pride 12U girls have played in competitive weekend tournaments throughout Montana and Wyoming since May in preparation for the State tournament. In early tournaments in Laurel (Riding the Rails – 05/30/2015 – 05/31/2015), Billings (Fastpitch Frenzy – 06/05/15 – 06/07/15), and Bozeman (Bozeman Blast- 06/12/15) the Pride girls faced some of the best fast pitch softball teams in the region. Although the girls did not come away with many wins in Montana, the experience gained is already starting to show with a young team mainly consisting of 11 year olds.

Early in the season, adversity plagued the Cody Pride girls with multiple games and practices cancelled due to wet weather. Injuries and illness also depleted the 12U roster on several occasions. In Bozeman, only six (6) of the regular 12 player roster were available to suit up and play. Coach Shawn Egger was able to complete the remaining games by borrowing some players from the 10U squad which also was competing in the tournament. Ava Meirs, Jayci Ervin, Hudson Selk, Riley Simone, and Laura Lynn Phillips all stepped up and played well with their older Pride members.

Douglas Invitational Tournament- June 20th & 21st

Casper Sliders 15 vs. Cody Pride 6

June 20th @ Douglas Invitational

On June 20th & 21st, the Pride 12U girls competed at the Douglas Invitational Tournament at Bartling Park in Douglas, Wyoming. The girls from Cody started slow losing their first pool play game to the Casper Sliders 15-6. Cody Pride 12U jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and the game remained tied half way through the 2nd inning. Casper was able to pull away late in the 2nd and 3rd innings with aggressive base running which capitalized on errors and inconsistent pitching by the young Pride team.

Emily Egger led the Pride from the mound into the 2nd inning and gave up eight (8) runs despite only giving up two (2) hits. Egger faced a total of twelve (12) Casper batters, striking out two (2) and walking four (4). Egger threw 40% strikes during the game. Allison “Shredder” Schroeder came in late in the 2nd in relief but did not fare much better.  Schroeder faced 16 batters giving up 2 hits and walking 7 batters with no strikeouts. Schroeder threw 15 strikes out of 56 pitches (26.7%) and gave up 7 runs.Schroeder and Egger did their part at the plate to try to hold on recording the only hits for Pride for the game.

Douglas Dominators 7 vs. Cody Pride 6

June 20th @ Douglas Invitational

The 2nd game for the Pride 12U girls in pool play on June 20th was a hard fought game against the Douglas Dominators. Cody again came out sluggish and was behind six (6) to 0 after three (3) innings. The Cody bats came alive in the 4th and 5th innings racking up six (6) runs to one run for Douglas. The Pride came up just short in the 5th ultimately losing to the Dominators 7 to 6. The hitting for both teams was relatively even with each team giving up 5 hits in the game. Allison Schroeder hit a grand slam home run in the fourth inning plating Nya Meier (#5), Bollinger, and Harris. Ashley Dunkerley (#25) was also strong at the plate going 1 for 2 including a triple in the third inning. Bollinger went 2 for 2 (both singles) and racked up one (1) RBI for Pride.

Schroeder was credited with the loss while pitching all four (4) innings against Douglas.Schroeder gave up 5 hits and walked 10 batters while recording one strikeout. Schroeder faced 23 batters while pitching 33 strikes out of 99 pitches (33.3%).

Cody Pride 11 vs. Gillette Bluejays 2

June 20th @ Douglas Invitational

Cody Pride 12U jumped out to an early lead and captured an 11 to 2 victory over Gillette in their final game of pool play on June 20th at the Douglas Invitational Tournament. Ten (10) runs in the first three innings allowed Cody Pride to put the game away early. An RBI double by Schroeder during the first inning and an RBI single by Meier fueled Cody’s offense early. Schroeder continued to be solid from the plate going 2 for 3 including an RBI single late in the 3rd. In addition to Meier and Schroeder, Ringel and Egger also recorded hits for Pride.

Egger was solid from the mound in the victory and recorded the win for Pride. Emily gave up no hits, struck out three (3) batters, and walked four (4) pitching well into the third inning. Egger faced 11 batters and threw 49 pitches of which 22 were strikes (44.9%) while only giving up one run on a passed ball. Ringel came on in relief late in the third inning and pitched the 4th inning. Ringel faced 5 batters and threw nine (9) strikes out of 17 pitches (52.9%) while giving up two (2) hits and just one run. The improved consistency on the mound backed by solid defensive play proved to be the difference in the game. Pride gave up just 1 error in the game compared to 4 by theBluejays.

Cody Pride 21 vs. Douglas Dominators 1

June 21st @ Douglas Invitational

The first game of bracket play on Sunday the 21st placed the Cody Pride 12U girls against a familiar opponent in the Douglas Dominators. After losing a close battle to Douglas the previous day in pool play, Cody Pride exploded on Sunday morning and dominated the Dominators 21 to 1. Pride scored 21 runs in the first three innings behind solid hitting and base running. A two-run single by A’din Rngel, an RBI doubl by Harris, another single by Ringel, an RBI double by Egger, and an RBI single by Bolinger helped Cody put runs on the board early. Harris racked up five RBIs on three (3) hits for Cody. Bollinger was 2 for 2 from the plate and Ringel was 2 for 4. Leiawna Varian (#10) also recorded a single to help fuel the attack. The Pride batters shredded the Dominators pitching as six hitters combined for eight hits, nine RBIs and 15 runs scored.

Allison Schroeder recorded the win for Cody Pride 12U. Schroeder allowed just one run over two innings. She struck out one, walked three and surrendered just one hit. Schroeder faced nine (9) batters and threw 12 strikes out of 27 pitches (44.4%). Nyah Meier finished the game for Pride from the mound and pitched one inning. Meier faced five (5) batters and pitched three (3) strikes on 12 pitches (25%). Meier did not record any strikeouts and walked two batters. According to Coach Shawn Egger, “it was a complete team effort”. Consistent pitching, solid fielding, good hitting, and great base running all were apparent in the win. Pride gave up no errors in the game compared to five (5) errors by the Dominators.

Casper Sliders 15 vs. Cody Pride 7

June 21st @ Douglas Invitational

Cody Pride 12U racked up six (6) hits, but it wasn’t enough as Cody fell to the Casper Sliders for the 2nd time in two days on June 21st at the Douglas Invitational. Pride drew first blood in the 1st inning with an RBI double by Schroeder which scored Egger. The game remained close into the 3rd inning which included an RBI single by Ringel which scored Dunkerley. Casper exploded in the fourth inning scoring nine (9) runs capitalizing on inconsistent pitching, passed balls, and aggressive base running. Schroeder, Meier, Ringel, and Egger all recorded hits for Pride. Ringel and Meier were both 2 for 3 with each recording a single and a double.

Schroeder started the game at the mound for Pride and pitched well into the 5th inning before surrendering the hill to Egger. Schroeder gave up 7 hits and walked five batters while striking out six (6) batters and giving up 12 runs. Schroeder faced 31 batters and threw 98 pitches of which 49 were strikes (50%). Egger finished out the game facing 10 batters. Egger walked one and gave up 4 hits and 3 runs on 29 pitches of which 19 were strikes (65.5%).

Razor City Invite – Gillette, Wyoming-- June 27th & 28st

Chadron Slammers 10 vs. Cody Pride 3

June 27th @ Razor City Invitational in Gillette, Wyoming

Cody Pride 12U dropped their first game in pool play on June 27th at the Gillette Invitational Tournament to the Slammers from Chadron, Nebraska. Chadron jumped out to an early lead scoring four (4) runs in the first inning and was able to coast to a 10 to 3 victory over Pride. Pride was unable to bring any runs across the plate in the first inning. Both team’s pitchers were stingy with each giving up just three (3) hits in the game. Egger, Summer Holeman (#15), and Dunkerley each logged hits for Pride. Harris, Edwards, and Ringel were able to find the plate with aggressive base running to notch the three (3) runs for Pride.

Schroeder was credited with the loss and pitched all four (4) innings for Pride. Schroeder faced 28 batters, striking out eight (8) and walking thirteen (13) while giving up the three hits. Schroeder threw 58 strikes out of 127 pitches thrown (45.7%).Chadron’s efficient and consistent pitching proved to be the difference in the game however. Chadron’s pitcher faced 19 batters while throwing 50 strikes out of 83 pitches (60.2%). Chadron gave up 3 hits while walking four batters and striking out 9.

Cody Pride 11 vs. Rapid City Wicked 8

June 27th @ Razor City Invitational in Gillette, Wyoming

Pitchers had a tough day during the game between the Cody Pride 12U girls and the Rapid City Wicked on Saturday June 27th in Gillette, Wyoming at the Razor City Invitational Tournament. The two teams combined for 12 hits and put up 19 runs in the game. Cody Pride held on to seal their first victory of the tournament 11 to 8.

Cody Pride came out swinging, scoring six (6) runs in the first inning to jump ahead of Rapid City early. Pride scored first with RBI singles from RIngel, Schroeder, Harris, and Edwards. Schroeder and Holeman were both a perfect 2 for 2 from the dish.  Egger was 2 for 3 and Abby Schuster (#20) was 1 for 1 for Pride which saw 7 different batters log hits in the game.

Egger started out the game from the mound for Pride. Egger faced fifteen (15) batters and threw 70 pitches of which 31 were strikes (44.3%). Egger struck out three (3) batters and walked eight (8) while giving up just one hit and 8 runs mainly due to walks and passed balls. Ringel came in to close out the game and faced just four (4) batters. Ringel threw 17 pitches of which 12 were strikes (70.6%). Ringel gave up just one hit and only one run and did not walk any batters while striking out one. Cody played a relatively clean game in the field giving up no errors compared to 2 by Rapid City.

Cody Pride 9 vs. Scottsbluff Broadway Bombers 5

June 27th @ Razor City Invitational in Gillette, Wyoming

Cody Pride outlasted a gritty team from Scottsbluff in their final game of pool play on Saturday June 27th while holding on for a 9 to 5 victory. Scottsbluff Broadway Bombers belted seven hits compared to just one for Cody Pride. However, the Bombers stranded six on base which proved to be the difference.

The game was knotted up at 0 to 0 after the first inning. However, Pride was able to get something going in the 2nd plating six (6) runs mainly due to some errant and inconsistent pitching on behalf of Scottsbluff. Summer Holeman got the only hit for Pride when she recorded an RBI single in the 2nd inning. Holeman managed to get on base two (2) times and scored 2 runs. Harris, Schroeder, Meier, Edwards, Ringel, Varian, and Dunkerley were also able to plate runs for Cody with aggressive base running after a series of wild pitches and walks by the Bombers.

Ringel was credited with the victory for Pride behind another solid pitching effort by the 11 year old. Ringel faced 19 batters and gave up five (5) runs on seven (7) hits. She struck out four (4) batters and walked four (4). Ringel threw 64 pitches of which 35 were strikes (54.7%). Schroeder took the mound in the 4th inning to preserve the victory. Schroeder threw 18 pitches of which 9 were strikes (50%). Schroeder only faced four batters but struck out 2 of them while walking one.

Torrington Twisters 14 vs. Cody Pride 2

June 28th @ Razor City Invitational in Gillette, Wyoming

Cody Pride was moved into the Gold bracket of the 14 team field after a solid 2-1 record in pool play on Saturday the 27th which included big wins over Rapid City and Scotts Bluff. Unfortunately, Pride drew a talented and experienced team from Torrington to start bracket play on the 28th. Torrington blanked Cody in the first two innings and jumped out to an eight (8) to nothing lead after two innings before coasting to a 14 to 2 victory.

The Torrington batters shredded the Pride pitchers with hot bats while logging 12 hits to only 3 by the Pride. Egger was one of a few bright spots for the Pride while going 2 for 2 from the plate. Varian recorded the other hit for Pride. Torrington used just nine (9) players but 7 of them recorded hits against Cody.

Schroeder was credited with the loss for Pride. She faced 24 batters while giving up 12 hits and walking four batters. Schroeder threw 31 strikes out of 65 pitches (47.6%) but was unable to record any strikeouts.

According to Assistant Coach and Cody Pride Softball Association President Brian Edwards, “the Torrington Twisters have a very solid softball program”. “At last years Wyoming State ASA tournament in Riverton, the Twisters won the Championship in the B League in the 10U, 12U, and 18U divisions. Undoubtedly, the Twisters will be one of the teams standing in the way for Pride as they head towards this year’s State tournament in Casper.”