Rampage win tourney; invited to 3 national invitational tournaments

The Twin Ports Rampage girls fastpitch team started out its fall schedule by winning the 14U tournament in Lakeville, Minn., last weekend. The Rampage defeated Wayzata, Minn., 7-3; Burnsville, 4-3; and Minnesota Fastpitch Academy Force 1-0 in eight innings.

In their pool-play opener against Wayzata, the Rampage took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Erin Thompson’s RBI. Wayzata scored three runs in the second inning, however the Rampage answered in the bottom of the second plating two runs and tying the score at 3-3.

The bottom of the fourth proved to be the difference as the Rampage scored four runs and cruised to a 7-3 victory.

The Rampage were led at the plate by Jordyn Olson, Erika Olson, Hannah Thul, Madysen Stariha and Ashley Welsh each with one hit. On the mound, Brandie Goldberg pitched a three-hitter with five strikeouts.

The next pool play game was against Burnsville 14U, and once again the Rampage jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after one inning.

Burnsville answered with two runs in the top of the third inning and eventually took a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

The Rampage responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and held Burnsville in the top of the fifth inning to hold onto the 4-3 victory.

Allie Thul, Stariha, Welsh and Lexi Johnson had hits for the Rampage and Stariha pitched a six-hitter with seven strikeouts.

The championship game with Minnesota Fastpitch Academy Force saw another pitcher’s duel the teams were scoreless after seven innings.

After seven innings, tournament rules stated that you follow the international tie-breaker rule where you start the inning with a runner on second base.

The Force bunted their base runner to third. Goldberg got the next batter to fly out to Allie Thul at shortstop for the second out then pitched her way out of the inning with a ground ball to Stariha, who scooped the ball and tagged first base for the final out.

Still tied 0-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Natalie Noble started on second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lanie DeMeyer then hit the ball back at the pitcher, who checked the runner at third and threw to first base for the out. As soon as she threw the ball to first, Noble jetted home and beat the tag to give the Rampage the championship.

The Lakeville tournament was a North America Fastpitch Association National tournament qualifier for next year in the Twin Cities, and an Amateur Softball Association Northern Nationals qualifier in Bismarck, ND.

The Rampage also announced that the United States Specialty Sports Association has invited them to play in Oklahoma City May 31 to June 3 for the USSSA OKC Challenge — On The Trail of Champions Invitational, which is held in conjunction with the Women’s College Softball World Series.

“To be invited to Oklahoma City and give these great group of girls an opportunity to not only play down there, but to see some of their college softball idols, is an incredible opportunity,” Rampage manager Stewart Goldberg said. “To top that off, to go and play our first 14U tournament in the Twin Cities and come out as champions and already be qualified for the two biggest national tournaments next year is amazing. These girls continue to work so hard at this game and our coaches and parents couldn’t be any prouder.”

The Rampage (43-13-1) will finish off their 2012 season in Coon Rapids Oct. 6-7 at the USSSA Fall State Tournament.

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