18U GOLD National Championship
USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex, Oklahoma City: July 19-25
The Tucson Royals 03 went 2-4 at the USA Softball 18 Gold National Championship held in Oklahoma City. After going 1-2 in pool play, the local team survived the elimination bracket on Wednesday but came up short on Thursday morning in dramatic fashion.
Down 3-0 in in the top of the 4th in the elimination game against the Texas Blaze, the Royals scored 3 runs to tie the game. With 2 outs, Samantha Dougherty drew a walk and then Tatiana Federico singled to put two on. Makayla Morales (no relation) scored Dougherty and then Laura Scott-Winhold doubled in Federico and Morales for the tie.
The regulation game ended in a tie and the Royals took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 8th under international tie rules. Lauren Brown started on second base and then stole third base. Brown scored on an error for the lead.
Texas Blaze tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning with two outs but two singles and a walk-off home run ended the game at 7-4.
POOL PLAY SCHEDULE
Monday, July 20
Oregon Thunder 18 8, Royals 1
OK Exclusive 18U 7, Royals 1
Tuesday, July 21
Royals 5, Texas Glory 2020 3
Wednesday, July 22
Texas Glory 18 Gold 13, Royals 1
Royals 7, Texas Bombers 4
Thursday, July 23
Texas Blaze 7, Royals 4
ROSTER
Alexis Guzman, Salpointe P/UTL 2023
Ariana Bettini, Salpointe OF 2022
Cheyenne Cunningham, Buena 2B/SS 2021
Hailie Mann, Mountain View P/1B 2021
JoLynn Niegocki, Mountain View C/OF 2021
Laura Scott-Winhold, Buena C/OF 2021
Lauren Brown, Buena SS/2B 2020 X
Leila Rouhani, Marana P/1B 2021
Makayla Morales, Mountain View LF/UTL 2021
Mariah Cunningham, Buena OF 2022
Mya Freund-Carbajal, Walden Grove RF/UTL 2021
Samantha Dougherty, Catalina Foothills C/3B 2022
Sophia Griffith, Buena P/1B 2022
Tatiana Federico SS/3B 2022, Salpointe
Tatum Caldwell, Marana 3B/2B 2021
Coach: Ray Camacho
Manager: Ambur Mann
FOLLOW @ANDYMORALES8 ON TWITTER
Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017, a 2019 AZ Education News award winner and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019 and he is a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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