Outlaws place second at state

Anne Jonas rips a double during the Brookings Outlaws’ 8-6 win over Rapid City Stealth in Saturday’s elimination game at the South Dakota ASA U14A State Tournament in Sioux Falls. The Outlaws battled back through the loser’s bracket in the double elimination tournament to finish second, winning the first title game 1-0 over the SD Flash before falling 3-1 in the second championship game. Photo courtesy Tracy Fritz

SIOUX FALLS – The Brookings Outlaws battled through the loser’s bracket after losing their second game of the 2012 Amateur Softball Association State U14A Tournament held over the weekend in Sioux Falls.

The Outlaws opened the tournament with a 10-3 win over the Brandon Rage on Friday night, but fell to Sioux Falls’ SD Flash, 5-2, on Saturday.

Brookings rebounded with three wins – 8-6 over Rapid City Stealth; 8-4 over Brandon Blaze; and 5-1 over Rapid City Kraze ’98 – to earn another shot at the Flash in the championship.

The Outlaws won the first championship game, 1-0, but couldn’t get the hits when they needed them in the second title game as they fell, 3-1, to finish second with a 5-2 record.



2nd Championship Game

• SD Flash 3, Outlaws 1

The Outlaws had chances to tie, or take the lead, but left runners in scoring position in three different innings. The SD Flash scored their three runs – all with two outs – with a couple timely hits and that was the difference in the game.

Kylie Fritz led the offense with a hit and RBI. Kara McDougall, Anne Jonas, Jill Nelsen, Brittany Kludt and Megan Fevold each added hits.

McClain and Fritz both worked in the circle as they scattered nine hits, with five strikeouts and no walks as McClain took the loss.



1st Championship Game

• Outlaws 1, SD Flash 0

In a game with good pitching performances by both teams’ pitchers, Jonas led the Outlaw offense with three hits.

Brianna Kreutner had two hits and an RBI sacrifice fly. Nelsen, McClain, Alex DeGroot and Fritz had a hit apiece.

McClain won the seven-inning shutout as she gave two hits and struck out four.



Third-place Game

• Outlaws 5, Rapid City Kraze ‘98 1

The Outlaws came out hot with the bats and scored three first-inning runs and played solid defense to secure the 5-1 win. The Outlaw defense had one of its best games of the tournament against one of the better hitting teams.

Megan Fevold led the offense with two hits and an RBI, while Jonas had a hit and two runs batted in.

Kreutner, McClain, Fritz and Kludt each contributed a hit as Fritz picked up the win by scattering seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.



Elimination Game (Sunday)

n Outlaws 8, Brandon Blaze 4

Brookings came out sluggish on defense and gave up four early runs before getting the bats going with 13 hits to advance.

Kludt led the offensive comeback with two hits, which included a double, two RBIs and a run scored.

DeGroot, McDougall, McClain and Nelsen had two hits apiece as McClain battled in the circle for the victory. The Blaze finished in fourth place.



Elimination Game (Saturday)

• Outlaws 8, Rapid City Stealth 6

The Outlaws dug a hole early as they trailed 5-1 after an inning before they battled back with the bats to earn an 8-6 win and stayed alive to play on Sunday.

Kreutner led the offense with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Kludt contributed a pair of hits and three runs batted in while Nelsen added two hits, two RBIs and scored twice.

Allie Steffensen also finished with two hits and Tyann Folkerts scored a pair of runs. McClain also had a hit she gave up eight hits and struck out three to earn the win.



Second Round (Saturday)

• SD Flash (Sioux Falls) 5, Outlaws 2

The Outlaws couldn’t get the timely hits to overtake the SD Flash and suffered their first setback in the double-elimination tournament.

Jonas and Kludt led the offense with two hits apiece. Kreutner, Fevold, Steffensen and Fritz each contributed a hit in the game as McDougall and Fritz each scored a run. Fritz took the loss in the circle.



First Round (Friday)

• Brookings Outlaws 10, Brandon Rage 3

The Outlaws started the tournament with a good all-around game on offense and defense as Kludt, McClain and Fevold led the offense as each collected two hits and scored twice.

Jonas added a hit and two runs scored as Fritz gave up four hits and struck out four to pick up the complete-game win.