WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. July 22, 2003. Sterling, Virginia: The Brewster Rockets played under the lights Monday evening, meeting of all teams, the New Jersey Diamond Girls, traveling 350 miles to play a club from their own backyard. Monday night in their opener of the PONY Nationals in Virginia.
Playing under windy conditions under excellent lights on a dry velvet infield of Yankee Stadium quality, the Rockets took an early 1-0 lead that was quickly relinquished in the bottom of the first when a hits batsmen, a walk and a misplayed bunt set up the Diamond Girls with a 1-1 tie and two out. A Texas League single to shallow center lifted the Diamond Girls to a 3-1 in the first, and never looked back. The Diamonds added to it with a 3-run triple to the left centerfield gap to make it 6-1 after four innings, and that’s the way she stayed. Erin Dommermuth was strong in the circle for the Rockets, but got into jams on a costly dropped throw at first, and a questionable hitsbatsperson with two out that set up the first inning rally for the D-girls.
The Rocket batgirls were frustrated by a flaring riseball from the Diam
ond Girl pitcher who consistently dazzled the Rockets with her speed. The Rockets lone run came on a bloop double to left center by Meg Johnson in the first who moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Shane Pais’ perfect safety squeeze bunt.
When the Rockets arrived at the Potomac Lakes complex for the night action, games of course were in full swing. Teams from Michigan and were playing on one diamond. Clubs from Ohio were playing on another. And the action was great. WPCNR noted the the pitching was outstanding, and of course, the batters who could execute and catch up with the elegant violence of the fastballs and the teams that could field their shots were getting the better of it.
Coming to the national competitions in fastpitch softball is a reality check. If you’re a pitcher you’re putting your stuff up against the nationals best hitters. As a hitter you’ll be seeing how well you can handle the stuff of top throwing windmillers from teams that have won tournaments in their regions. Teams quickly learn where their deficiencies are mentally and physically. You have to be prepared to play, rise to the occasion and get more out of yourself. It’s why you come to nationals, to measure yourself.
