Aldridge’s Strike Zone squad wins Western Nationals
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Gilroy High junior Kayla Aldridge and the East Bay-based Strike Zone 16U ASA fast-pitch softball team defeated the California Chaos, out of Redding, 7-2, to win the July 30-August 3 Western Regional Nationals held in Saint George, Utah.
The Strike Zone team stayed in the winner’s bracket with seven straight wins to take home the title. The team’s overall tournament record was 8-1. The Strike Zone scored a total of 68 runs, and only allowed 15 over the entire tournament.
The squad faced the following teams out of the 43-team field: Riverside Dynasty, Washington Reign, Concord Shockers, San Jose Sting, Utah Crusherzz, American Athletics, San Diego Breakers, and the California Chaos twice.
Aldridge batted .300 for the tournament, scored six runs, hit two doubles (one bounced over the fence on one hop), and had five RBIs. Besides being one of the offensive leaders of the team, Aldridge also played shortstop in every game and made several key defensive plays.
“Her outstanding defensive play was a major reason why we only allowed 15 runs in nine games,” said Coach Byron Bunten of Aldridge, who he also coaches on the Gilroy High varsity softball squad.
In the semi-final game with the San Diego Breakers, Aldridge came up to bat in the sixth inning with the score tied 2-2 with two outs and runners on second and third. Aldridge hit a hard ground ball that went through the second baseman’s and then rightfielder’s legs all the way to the fence – scoring both runs and leading the Strike Zone to a 4-2 victory.
The top two teams in the tournament – the Strike Zone and the Chaos – earned automatic berths into the 16U or 18U ASA National Tournaments in 2004.
The Strike Zone’s first victory in bracket play was a 8-3 win over the San Jose Sting. Gilroy High sophomore Sarah Villar plays outfield and pitches for the Sting, and Lady Mustang teammate Christina Hernandez is their shortstop. Villar had a complete-game 6-1 victory over the NorCal Dynasty in the ensuing game.
Other Gilroy High diamond girls participating in the regional tournament were senior catcher Bria DeLorenzo and infielder Michelle Gonzales for the San Jose Strikkers.
