Announcement
In the first year as a registered Gold team in Pennsylvania, the Sellersville Belles Gold have done something most ASA Gold teams have never done - qualify for Gold Nationals!! In a meat-grinder of a schedule, with 90 degree temperatures, and the strong arm of Marley Laubach, the Sellersville Belles Gold gutted their way to a first place finish at the Eastern Gold Qualifier in York Pennsylvania this weekend.
The Belles won their first game over the Chatanooga Force 6-3 at 10:00 on Saturday morning. Immediately following that game, the Belles faced the Heartbreakers Gold out of Frederick Maryland. This game went 10 innings as the Belles triumphed 4-1. The Belles then faced Team Reno in a 2:00 game. Again, the Belles prevailed 5-2 and moved the Belles into the winners bracket final game on Sunday at 12:00 noon. Marley Laubach pitched every inning in the 3 games in a herculian effort.
Sunday was the high noon showdown with Wagners in the winners bracket final. The Belles were simply outmatched as they dropped this game 10-0 to a hard hitting Wagners team. Wagners were then assured of a bid to Gold Nationals because at worst, they would finish second in the tournament. They left and forfeited the final game to the winner of the upcoming losers bracket final between the Sellersville Belles Gold and the Chatanooga Force, a rematch of the previous morning.
The Belles took at 1-0 lead into the bottome of the 5th when the Force score two runs to go ahead 2-1. Then in the top of the 7th inning with one out, Brianna DePriest reached base as she was hit by pitch. Bridget Casey then sacrifice bunted to move DePriest to 2nd. Haley Taylor then singled up the middle to move DePriest to 3rd. Morgan Alisauckas then drew a walk, setting the stage for Emily Mayhew to step to the plate with bases loaded and two outs and the Belles down a run. Mayhew ripped a 1-1 pitch up the middle to score both DePriest and Taylor from 2nd to move the Belles into the lead 3-2. Sam Gorman popped out to 2nd to end the half of the inning.
The Force then came to the plate in the bottom of the 7th trailing 3-2. Their lead off hitter singled into the 5-6 hole. The next hitter singled to left to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The next hitter reached on a error by Laubach as she tried to get the lead runner at 3. With bases loaded and no outs, things did not look good for the Belles. However, the next Force hitter hit a one hopper back to Laubach in the pitching circle, she thre home for the out at home and catcher Alisauckas threw to Carlye Coleman at first for the 1-2-3 double play. The Force still had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out. The final out was recorded on a pop fly to DePriest at short stop and the celbration began. The Sellersville Belles Gold, in their first year playing in the Gold Division, have qualified for ASA Gold Nationals!!
Congratulations to Head Coach Jimmy Degnan and assistant coaches Doug Taylor and Crystal States.
