Josie Clark, of the Medicine Hat Thunder, drives a single into the outfield during her team's Softball Alberta U19B championship tournament game against the River City Hornets on Friday at the Moose Community Ball Complex. -- NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
The Medicine Hat Thunder dug in their heels and rebounded from a tough start at the Softball Alberta U19B championships and bounced back to finish Friday at 1-1.
After dropping a 17-2 to the Elnora Eagles Pennock, the Thunder found themselves in a waiting game – as they were held off the diamond until the Edmonton Warriors and Calgary West Hills completed a marathon game that lasted more than three hours. But when the dust settled, the bats came out blazing.
If we would have lost the two games it would have been hard waking up and playing at 9 a.m. again,” said Medicine Hat’s Jayley Wandler, whose Thunder defeated the River City Hornets 14-4 in four innings to close out their day. “We’re hoping to keep the win streak going and make it all the way to Sunday.”
Thunder coach Scott Kelly said he “couldn’t be more proud” of his group for the way they rallied together and rebounded, keeping their hopes of reaching championship Sunday alive.
“We knew we had what it takes to rebound from the game we had this morning,” said Kelly. “We didn’t play to the best of our ability but the team that beat us was strong. Then the girls came out and our bats were dynamite.”
Wandler has been with the team for four years, and many of her teammates have been together for eight – making for a very tight-knit group.
“Weekends like this, it’s just good to always be with them,” she said. “Being tight with them makes it so much better.”
The Thunder are back at it Saturday with games against West Hills (9 a.m.) and the Edmonton Warriors. (1 p.m.).
The top four teams in the nine-team tournament will advance to Sunday’s championship round. Playoff action starts Sunday at 9 a.m., with the championship game slated for 3 p.m.
