Texas Takes One Game Lead Over Riptide
August 26, 2004 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Rockford Thunder News Release
AKRON, Ohio â In a three-game series winning the first game is most important, and the Texas Thunder did so by taking game one over the New England Riptide by a final score of 4-1.
Click on link for box score:
http://ism.infinityprosports.com/Uploads/61/NPFTWO.pdf
Texas got on the board early, scoring the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield by Kristen Zaleski. Zaleski finished the game with no official at-bats in the game, collecting two free passes and the RBI sacrifice fly.
Left fielder Ashley Moore, who is currently playing with a severely damaged shoulder, got New England on the board in the top of the third inning with an RBI single to left field. Moore's single scored Riptide leadoff hitter LaDonia Hughes, who reached base with a single to open the inning.
The one run in the third was all that New England could muster off of Texas pitchers Lindsay Chouinard and Peaches James. Chouinard made the start for the Thunder going 5 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and striking out four. James entered the game after two batters in the fifth inning, and she went on to get the final five outs in the game to secure the save.
Jocelyn Forest took the complete game loss for Riptide, as she gave up five hits in six innings of work. The league's regular season strikeout leader only struck out one batter in the game.
The big offensive blow came in the top of the sixth inning, when mid-season acquisition Stephanie Ramos launched a two-run homer deep into right center field. Ramos' homerun followed an error by shortstop Tara Knudsen that allowed Texas slugger Ryan Realmuto to reach first base.
The same two teams will go at it again tomorrow night live from Akron at 8 p.m. EDT. The starting pitchers have not been announced at this time, but it looks like Christa Williams will take the ball for the Thunder against Leigh Ann Ellis from the Riptide. Catch the action live on www.npf.prosportsradio.com beginning at 6 p.m. EDT when the Akron Racers take on the NY/NJ Juggernaut.
NPF, the world's premier professional fastpitch softball league for women, consists of six teams located throughout the United States and features former USA Softball Women's National Team members, collegiate All-Americans and all-conference selections. The 2004 season has featured the inaugural NPF All-Star Game, the first-ever NPF Championship Semifinal and the first NPF Championship Series.
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, and has been in operation since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL).
• Discuss this story on the National Pro Fastpitch message board...
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from August 26, 2004
- Peel's triple sends series to third game - NPF
- Akron Races by Nauts 3-1 to Tie Up Series at One Apiece - New York/New Jersey Juggernaut
- Texas Takes One Game Lead Over Riptide - Rockford Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
