The Roanoke Rapids based 12U Lady Twisters travel softball team headed to Rocky Mount this past weekend finishing 2nd in the Girls Love Diamonds Tournament.
They would end up playing eight games this weekend, more than anyone else in the Tournament.
Mia Fleming took the mound for the first game of the day against Southern Chaos, striking out six and retiring 13 of 18 batters. The ladies struggled a bit at the plate only recording four hits, including key bunts by Logan Ross and Alexandria Richardson. Southern Chaos struck first in this game and two late game walks helped give the Lady Twisters the 3-2 win in the first pool game of the day.
Logan Ross faced off against the Lady Phantoms in the second pool game of the day. It was a rough outing for Logan as the Phantoms came out swinging. The Lady Twisters struggled as well at the plate, only getting eight hits with the highlight of the game for the Lady Twisters being Tyasia Stansbury's 2 RBI triple that drove in Kaylee Collier and Makaila Ricks. Unfortunately it wasn't enough as the Lady Twisters lost 11-5 in the second pool game of the day.
Again the Lady Twisters got a chance for revenge as the bracket seeding placed them opposite The Lady Phantoms in the first bracket game of the event. This time Kalissa Williams took to the rubber for the Lady Twisters and put on a show. Kalissa recorded eight strikeouts, retired 12 of 15 and only walked three en route to her first No Hitter. Key hits by the bottom of the lineup including a double by Tyasia Stansbury and a triple by Logan Ross helped spark the offense leading the Lady Twisters to a 6-1 win.
Kalissa took the mound against the Virginia Galaxy in the final game of the day. This time she recorded 7 strikeouts and retired 7 of 17 batters. However the offense didn't show up in this one as the Lady Twisters only recorded two hits in the game, one of which was an inside the park Two run Home Run by Kamryn Dixon. The Lady Twisters would fall 5-2 and have to return early Sunday morning and fight their way out of the Loser's Bracket.
Heading into Day 2 of the tournament the Lady Twisters faced off against the Triangle Twisters in an early morning game. Mia Fleming took the mound for the Lady Twisters and was phenomenal. She struck out 2 and retired 9 of 12 batters on her way to pitching her first No Hitter. The Lady Twisters took advantage of the young Triangle Twisters team and poured in the runs, scoring 10 runs in the first inning on their way to a 14-0 victory over the Triangle Twisters.
Game Two saw Kalissa Williams take the mounds once again against the Lady Phantoms, the 3rd meeting between the two teams this tournament. Kalissa struck out six and retired 11 of 15 batters. A late rally started by Akirah Grey and Alayna Davis pushed the Lady Twisters in front for good, as Kaylee Collier and Kamryn Dixon hit back to back triples scoring four runs and lifting the Lady Twisters to a 5-1 victory.
Kalissa Williams was on the mound for game three against the Virginia Galaxy. She struck out five and retired 12 of 21 batters. The Lady Twisters pieced together runs here and there in this back and forth game to see who advanced to the Championship Game. Mia Fleming and Kenzie Stallings had back to back doubles, driving in a run and pushing the Twisters out in front until the Galaxy scored three in the bottom half of the inning. The Galaxy added one more before the Twisters finally took off at the plate. Kalissa Williams singled, Mia Fleming drew a walk (her SIXTH walk for the tournament) and were driven in by singles from Jaina Davis and Kenzie Stallings. Tyasia Stansbury stepped to the plate and smashed an in the park home run, pushing the Twisters out in front for good, giving them a 6-5 win, sending them to the Championship Game.
In the Championship Game the Lady Twisters faced off against the Pitt County Heartbreakers in a close game. Kalissa Williams took the mound in this game and while she only recorded one strikeout she retired 8 of 16 batters and kept the Heartbreakers from running away with a victory. The Lady Twisters bats unfortunately were silent during this game and it wasn't until Kenzie Stallings doubled to drive in Kalissa Williams late in the game that the Twisters were able to tie up the game. The Heartbreakers were able to score the winning run the next inning and defeated the Lady Twisters 2-1 in the Championship Game.
