West Boca Diamonds Slash the Miami Wildcats in a Nail-Biter.
Which is the best 8U softball team in the country? If you answered the West Boca Diamonds, then go to the head of the class. That’s right. For the first time in the history of the West Boca Diamonds Girls Fastpitch Softball League, they have the nation’s best. And the way they have reached the pinnacle of success involved nothing less than amazing work and dedication of coaches and players with plenty of support from their enthusiastic parents.
The most recent tournament the West Boca 8U team entered was the Palmetto Bay Blast in Miami (May 9-10, 2009). The coaches and players warily eyed the schedule and noticed their arch rival, the vaunted Miami Wildcats, were also in the tournament. This intense and growing rivalry brings out the best in both teams. Forget the Yankees vs. Red Sox or Cowboys vs. Redskins. The championship game played between the Wildcats and Diamonds was a nail-biter to the end with the Diamonds wining by just one run. But before we get to that amazing ending, how did the Diamonds achieve another opportunity to play in the championship game?
The Wildcats and Diamonds earned the #1 and #2 seeds respectively by beating the Miami Stingrays, Pines Lil Thunder and the Diamond Dusters in seeding play on Saturday. The Diamonds continued their relentless hitting all day led by hard hitting Gigi Auricchio, who started the tourney off with home runs in her first two at bats. In the seeding game against the Pines Lil Thunder, the Diamonds put on a hitting clinic that would have made Olympic softball slugger Crystal Bustos proud. Lead off hitter Brooke Antonio hit the team’s first grand slam home run and her twin sister Brandi Antonio blasted three home runs. One of the USSSA umpires marveled at the Diamond's hitting and affectionately compared the girls to “Murderer’s Row – The 1927 New York Yankees.”
But as the Diamonds would find out in the championship games on Sunday, great hitting is just one way to win. On Sunday, outstanding fielding saved the day for the Diamonds. In the first single-elimination game, the Diamonds earned a birth in the finals by beating the much improved Pines Lil Thunder in a defensive classic on Sunday morning. The West Boca ladies lead 1-0 after three innings when their hitting finally overwhelmed the Lil Thunder. A fabulous catch in left field by Amber Koch stopped the Thunder momentum and sealed the game for West Boca. 1st baseman/cleanup hitter Brandi Antonio and pitcher Anna Langley continued their excellent play leading the Diamonds into the finals.
The championship game against the Wildcats was a hard fought battle that went down to the wire. West Boca jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and seemed in control until the Wildcats rallied in the 3rd to get within a run. The Miami Wildcats are known for having the best defense in the league and were confident they could hold the Diamonds to much fewer runs than their typical 13 per game. The game was tied through four innings when the Diamonds manufactured a run in the top of the 5th to go ahead 9-8. The bottom of the 5th inning will go down as one of the most amazing defensive stands put on by the Diamonds. The first batter for the Wildcats nailed a grounder past the Diamonds 3rd baseman. The next batter hit a pop fly that unceremoniously dropped to the ground. Thus, with a runner on 1st and 2nd base, and no outs, the Miami Wildcats were brimming with confidence that they could score the needed two additional runs to take home the 1st place trophy. But the Diamonds defense shut the door on the Wildcats. First, shortstop Brooke Antonio tagged a runner out at third to get the first out; the 2nd out was the result of a rare strike out by the Wildcats. So with runners on 1st and 2nd base and 2 outs, the Wildcats lead-off hitter comes to plate. The players were beyond nervous knowing that she had two hits already against the Diamonds. But this time the Diamonds would be victorious as the lead-off hitter hits a grounder to 1st baseman Brandi Antonio who promptly scooped up the ball and outran her to first base, sealing the Wildcats fate as playing second fiddle to the Diamonds for the second time this season.
Moreover, in what seems to be a common occurrence with the Diamonds, a key double play by Anna Langley and Brandi Antonio further showed that the Diamonds are more than just a hitting and base-running machine. They indeed turned up the notch in their win against the Wildcats with stellar defense and gutty determination. As the players on the West Boca Diamonds readily admit, the only way to beat the Miami Wildcats is to play your best. Anything less than a best effort will send you packing home with a 2nd place trophy.
Brandi Antonio earned team outstanding player honors followed closely by Anna Langley, who played great at pitcher and at the plate all tournament long. 2nd baseman Amy Robbins maintained her aggressive play while shortstop Brooke Antonio continued to make dazzling shoestring catches. Tiffany Saba continued to play solidly at 3rd base and role players Elly Jackson, Stephanie Proenza and Aliya Laingor continue to come up with big hits on offense for the Diamonds.
The Diamonds are led by speedy short stop Brooke Antonio, her twin sister Brandi, veteran players Amy Robbins, Anna Langley, Jordyn Griffith, Tiffany Saba, Ally Nerf, and a cast of first year girls quickly making their mark on the team; Peri Spector, Gigi Auricchio, Elly Jackson, Stephanie Proenza, Amber Koch and Aliya Laingor. The Diamonds are coached by Jeff Langley, Tim Robbins, Kevin Griffith, Ira Spector, Shelli Robbins team Manager, and Karla Antonio, the team’s trainer.
