Cyclones second in state fastpitch tourney

MODESTO — The Cyclones, a Sonora-based under-16 girls' fastpitch team, finished second in the National Softball Association State Tournament at Rainbow Fields.

They won three of five games in their eight-team division of the big 65-team affair after qualifying at tournaments in Manteca (2-2) and Salinas (3-1-1).

The state highlight for the Cyclones was an 8-4 semifinal victory over the Santa Cruz Surf, which had knocked them out of the Salinas Tournament with the Cyclones holding forth as the No. 1 seed.

Chloe Scudder pitched a complete game, giving up seven hits while striking out six and walking one. She got plenty of hitting support as Katie Begier went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two runs batted in, Breann Craig 2-for-3 with a run, Haley McColloch 2-for-4 with two runs, Maggi Starkweather 2-for-3 with a towering triple and a run, and Holly Barton 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

The Cyclones opened with victories of 16-0 over the Burson Bruisers and 8-5 over Sudden Impact of Tehachapi.

Jessica Aubrey and Barton combined to pitch a no-hitter with seven strikeouts against the Bruisers. Begier went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, Scudder went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs, and Angie Cruz tripled.

Against Sudden Impact, Scudder pitched five

innings and drove in two runs, while Barton went 2-for-3 with two runs and finished up in the pitcher's circle. Also, Aubrey went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

Sandwiched around the victory over Santa Cruz were losses of 3-2 and 7-1 to the champion Tracy Express.

The 3-2 game was decided on the international

tiebreaker after the teams were tied 2-2 when the time limit expired. Aubrey pitched four innings and Barton two, Jillian Fiske drove in a run, Aubrey tripled and scored, and Begier went 1-for-3 with a run.

The championship game saw Scudder go 2-for-3, Begier go 1-for-3, and Fiske score the Cyclones' lone run. Barton and Aubrey did the pitching.