Pauly pitches gem; Washington back in finals
August 24, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Washington Glory News Release
KIMBERLY, Wis. - One of the themes of the 2008 NPF Championship Series continued in the first game on Sunday, as the Washington Glory scored three first inning runs to beat the Philadelphia Force 3-2. The win moved the Glory into the championship game for the second consecutive season.
Philadelphia pitcher Katie Burkhart retired the first two hitters of the first very easily, but she allowed a two-out walk to Amber Jackson to keep the inning going. Oli Keohohou, who was an All-NPF selection this season, drilled a long double to centerfield to plate Jackson. This set the stage for third baseman Sara Larquier. Larquier took a 2-1 curve ball from Burkhart out deep to left field, as the ball cleared the permanent fence of 250'.
The Force wouldn't go quietly in the game, as they responded to score their two runs in the bottom of the second inning. And just like the Glory did in the first inning, Philadelphia scored both runs with two outs. Kristen Miller led off the rally with a single to right field and she would eventually score on a single by Emily Friedman. Friedman would score the Force's second run two pitches later on an RBI poke by Clare Burnum.
Neither team would generate many other scoring opportunities in the game until the Force half of the sixth inning. Jenna Hall led off the inning with her second hit of the day and would eventually move to third base in the inning where she would be stranded. Hall and Friedman were each 2-for-3 in the game.
Sarah Pauly picked up her second win of the 2008 postseason by throwing the complete game. She allowed eight hits in the contest and struck out three hitters.
NOTES: The championship game (Game #6 and #7 - if necessary) will be available through live streaming at www.mlb.com. Fans can either find the game through mlb.com or they can go to http://www.profastpitch.com/pagebank/index.html?id=961 and follow the links to the live streaming. There will be no fee for the fans to tune in to the live broadcast.
Bernie Guenther, who is the voice of NPF on all Fox Sports Net broadcasts, will handle all of the play-by-play action. Joey Arrietta, GM of the Akron Racers, as well as NPF President/Commissioner Cheri Kempf, will provide color analysis.
Gametracker will also be available for all games of the NPF Championship Series and will be available at no cost to fans. To access the Gametracker, fans will have to logon to the league website at www.profastpitch.com.
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National Pro Fastpitch Stories from August 24, 2008
- Chicago wins first-ever NPF Championship Title - Chicago Bandits
- Pauly pitches gem; Washington back in finals - Washington Glory
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