TN Fury 97 claims inaugural 16U GOLD National Title

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From: "Codi Warren" <cwarren@softball.org>
Date: July 27, 2014 at 10:27:26 PM CDT
To: "Codi Warren" <cwarren@softball.org>
Subject: GOLDEN girls of summer; TN Fury 97 claims inaugural 16U GOLD National Title

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 27, 2014

 

GOLDEN girls of summer; Tennessee Fury 97 claims inaugural 16U GOLD National Title

 

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.  – The start of the 2014 ASA/USA Softball National Championship season is underway as Tennessee Fury 97 was crowned National Champions in the inaugural 16U GOLD National Championship with a 7-2 win over Tulsa Elite 98 in the if-necessary game in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball announced today. 

 

"The feeling of winning an ASA/USA National Championship can't be described," said TN Fury 97 Head Coach Randy Coppinger.  "This is our second ASA/USA National Championship, but the feeling never gets old.  When you win an ASA/USA National Championship, you know you've earned something special."

  

After forcing the if-necessary game with a 10-9, extra inning victory over the undefeated Tulsa Elite 98, the TN Fury 97 captured their second ASA/USA National Championship with a 7-2 win to capture the first ever ASA/USA 16U GOLD National Championship title.  The TN Fury 97 finished the week long tournament with a 10-2 record, with one loss occurring in pool play and the second loss at the hands of the Tulsa Elite 98 in the winners bracket finals.  The TN Fury 97 also outscored opponents 117-31.

 

Click here for stats from the entire ASA/USA 16U GOLD National Championship

 

The TN Fury 97 were led by Libby Sugg, who collected 23 RBI with four home runs and 11 runs scored, finishing the tournament with a .583 batting average.  From the circle, Brianna Jones led the way with a 3-2 record, issuing 25 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched with a 2.39 ERA.

 

A four first-inning runs helped TN Fury 97 to a 7-2 win over Tulsa Elite 98 on Saturday in the if-necessary game.   Libby Sugg racked up three RBI on one hit for TN Fury 97, hitting a three-run homer in the first inning.

 

TN Fury 97 relied on Jordan Fortel in the if-necessary game as Fortel pitched all seven innings and allowed two earned runs, six hits and one walk while striking out two. She also led the team in home runs with 8.

 

Taylor Compton lasted one-third of an inning on the rubber for Tulsa Elite 98, surrendering four hits and four runs. Erica Battiest entered in relief during the first inning, issuing one strikeout, five hits and three runs in her 6.2 innings of work.

 

TN Fury 97 increased its lead with two runs in the sixth. Jordan Fortel started the inning with a single, bringing home Katie Corum. That was followed up with a steal of home by Alyssa Coppinger.

 

Two runs in the bottom of the sixth helped Tulsa Elite 98 close its deficit to 7-2. A passed ball and a sacrifice fly by Devin Hale sparked Tulsa Elite 98's rally.

 

Tennessee Fury players include Hannah Bodenhorn (Wilson Central), Baylee Cook (Shelbyville High School), Alyssa Coppinger (Whitwell), Katie Corum (Knoxville Halls), Madison Cousineau (Franklin High School, NC), Hannah Devault (CAK), Jordan Fortel (Greeneville High School), Brianna Jones (Coffee County), Kayla Logoleo (Overton High School), Kelsey McGuffin (Central Hardin High School, KY), Jordan Spicer (Beech) and Libby Sugg (Franklin High School, TN). The team is coached by Co-Head Coaches Randy Coppinger & Keith Perry and assistant coaches Kevin Earls, Bob Fortel & Chuck Sugg. 

 

Below are top seven team finishes in the Championship:

1.       TN Fury 97

2.       Tulsa Elite 98

3.       Indy Dreams - Montgomery

4.       TN Fury 98 

T5. Impact GOLD - Elder

T5. Aces Express - Clements

 

About ASA 

The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation's largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 76 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 210,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than three million. For more information on the ASA, visit http://www.asasoftball.com/. 

About USA Softball 

USA Softball is the brand created, operated and owned by the ASA that links the USA Men's, Women’s, Junior Boys' and Junior Girls' National Team programs together. USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting these four National Teams to compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women's National Team is one of the only two women's sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles including the last seven consecutive as well as claimed six World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about USA Softball, please visit http://www.usasoftball.com/.

 

 

Codi Warren

 

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Amateur Softball Association of America/USA Softball

Office 405.425.3431 | Cell 405. 420. 2817