Cordova’s junior softball team hits the road

JEANNIE GILMAN

July 03, 2008 at 1:08PM AKST

The Sea Devils girls’ softball team completed a four-day road trip on June 20. Games had begun in South Anchorage with a double header against Abbott-O-Rabbit’s teams, Diamond Diggers and Stealth.

In game one, Kari Gilman hit a double sending in Mallory Merritt and Kliza Calaustro to score the Devils’ only two runs. The final was 16-2.

Game two began with Angie Kelly at the mound and Jana Howard behind the plate.

The Devils lost 14-2 after six innings. Game-day jitters and mental errors contributed to Cordova’s losses.

Day two, the Devils headed north to Eagle River to face Knik No. 1 and Knik No. 2.
Game three was called in the fifth inning due to time. Caluastro pitched two innings and Laura Kacsh pitched three innings.

Sandy Morrisett was on fire running the bases, scoring three of Cordova’s 10 runs.

Tremendous efforts by the Devil’s fielders, Mallory Merritt, Raven Madison and Chrystalyn Finch held the game close. The final score spelled a close Devils’ loss, 12-10.

In game four, the Devils worked hard as a team. They made three pickoffs at home and one at first base.

Kari Gilman hit the first home run on the road, and Hannah Grimwood stole her “first” base. The final was Knik No. 2, 12, Devils 6.

The Sea Devils traveled to the Kenai Peninsula, where they played Kenai and Soldotna.

Game five began with Misa Webber behind the plate and Caluastro on the mound. At the bottom of the first inning it was a 4-4 ballgame. After three innings, it was 20-7 with the Devils on top.

Shannon Lindow started the bats rolling in the second inning. With bases loaded, she hit a clean triple, knocking in three runs. In the third inning, she batted in two more RBI with a sacrifice at first base.

The real hero came in the bottom of the fifth inning. With Calaustro on base, Jana Howard hit a two-run homer to bring in the winning run. The final was 23-22 for the Devils’ first win of the road trip.

Next the Devils faced Soldotna, which had won their earlier game. At the top of the third inning, the score was 5-3 in favor of Soldotna.

Soldotna rallied in the fourth inning, bringing in eight runs. The final after five innings, Soldotna 13, Devils 6.

The Devils played hard in this great game but just ran out of clock.

The Lady Sea Devils thanked Orca Adventure Lodge for the use of their van and Barb Jensen for traveling with the team. The Sea Devils hosted home games June 27-28.

The team will hit the road again in July to compete at Districts.

Jeannie Gilman is the Sea Devils’ manager.