By CINDY CROSBY
cindyc4@yahoo.com
The 18U Badkatz fastpitch softball team participated in the USSSA Father’s Day Fury held Saturday June 20 at the ACE Basin Sports Complex in Walterboro. This was the first tournament of the season for the local team and the first time playing competitively since COVID-19 forced high school and travel teams to shut down mid-March.
The Badkatz went 4-1 in the one-day event and finished second after shutting out three opponents on the day and outscoring the competition 24-1.
In game one, the Badkatz defeated Lake Marion 2-0 behind the shutout pitching of Whitley Weathers. Weathers allowed just three hits across four innings of work and struck out five. Shandi Brown and Mykenzie Overton were 2-2 in the game and Amberly Way and Becca Martin had RBI’s.
In a 7-0 shutout over the Angels (GA) in game two, Amberly Way threw a no-hitter allowing one walk and striking out four across three innings of work. Weathers and Josie Self were both 1-2 at the plate with RBI’s. Taylor Tomedolskey was 1-2 and scored twice in the game. Aaliyah Williams and Way had a hit each.
Seeded in the top spot heading into bracket play, the Badkatz aligned for a rematch with the Angels (GA) for game three of the day. Aaliyah Williams took the circle and earned a 10-0 shutout win across four innings of work, allowing one hit and striking out nine. The Badkatz had 11 hits in the game with Williams, Overton and Weathers each going 2-2 at the plate.
In the semi-final game, the Badkatz defeated the Lady Sharks (GA) 5-0 behind a one-hitter with Weathers in the circle. Weathers struck out four and issued no walks in the contest. Self was 1-2 at the plate with 2-RBI’s to lead the Badkatz. Brown, Way and Mackenzie Pellum had a hit each.
The 75-minute timed championship game pitted the Badkatz against the Carolina Diamondbacks. With a start time of 8:04, the game was called at 9:10 with the Badkatz trailing 1-0. Weathers allowed one run on two hits across four innings of work, striking out five. Tomedolskey was 1-2 (double) at the plate.
