Login | Staff | Feedback | Customer Service | RSS | Advertise | Subscriber Services
customer service

HomeSportsYouth Sports

Youth softball: Golden Gate 9-10s outscore Naples Rockets for district title

If the 9- and 10-year-old District 27 championship game Wednesday night between Golden Gate and the Naples Rockets was a battle of attrition, Golden Gate’s Brooke Gutteridge certainly earned her stripes.

After badly twisting her right ankle backing up her first baseman during a rundown in the fifth inning of Golden Gate’s 22-12 win, the shortstop bounced back on defense to get Alexandria Garcia, then in the bottom of the inning smashed a two-run double to make the score 21-12 before Nicki Tisch batted her in to win the game.

The win is Golden Gate’s second consecutive district championship, and the team advanced to sectionals at Sam Fleishman Park in Fort Myers this weekend.

“We were trying to get (Sara Shir) in a pickle at first and the ball got past the first baseman, and then I turned and stepped on the catcher’s foot or ankle,” Gutteridge said. “It was hurting for a little bit, but I had to shake it off and forget about it.”

After winning the first game of the best-of-three series 8-4 on Monday, Golden Gate pitcher Rebecca Gates threw 39 pitches in the first inning — 23 for balls — and allowed Naples to quickly score four runs.

Gates completed the game on the mound and was 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a couple of runs, thanks to some astute base running.

It wasn’t as though Gates was the only pitcher having a tough go of it out on the mound; Naples’ pitcher Lauren Vath stayed on the mound for the duration for the Rockets, but was the victim of the same issues Golden Gate was forced to deal with. Rainy weather that canceled Tuesday night’s first attempt at the game and delayed Wednesday’s makeup date for an hour kept the balls slipping through gloves, hands and gaps all night.

But for Golden Gate, the win was a culmination of a season spent working hard for just that moment.

“When the season started, we couldn’t hardly field or catch,” Gutteridge said. “So winning this just feels great.”

Comments

This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. Break our rules, and we will ban you. No exceptions, no second chances. Read our privacy policy & user agreement.


Great Job Girls and good luck in sectionals.

#1 Posted by Slick4President on July 10, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GREAT JOB girls. YOU SO ROCK.....
I am so PROUD Of you all.
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.....

GOOD LUCK AT SECTIONALS!!!

#2 Posted by KatMChampagne on July 10, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)



Post your comment
(Requires free registration.)

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Your Turn:


Clear

Currently: 56 °

Intermittent Clouds
Hi: 80° | Low: 59° | Humidity: 86%
Wind: CLM at 0 mph
More weather » | Tide Charts »
Fun Time

Fun Time is moving this month to a new location, and we’d like you to share your favorite memories, stories and pictures of the little yellow building on the corner of Fifth Avenue North and Tenth Avenue North. Send us your memories »

Holiday Events in Southwest Florida
Local Charities share their Holiday Wishlists
Email the Governor

Love it, hate it, think the state should wait? Governor Charlie Crist has been getting an earful about the plan to lease Alligator Alley. Now's your turn. Tell the Governor how you feel! »

NIE Cruise Contest

Newspapers in Education provides newspapers, lessons, Web site activities and links for local schools and homes. Donate newspapers to kids and earn a chance at a four-night cruise for two in the Caribbean! »

Swimsuit Edition 2008

It’s with great pleasure that we introduce Swimsuit 2008, our third annual swimwear edition. We take pride in the fact that all models involved are from right here in our community. This is where they live, work and play. Check it out! »