Starz triumph at Sacramento tourney
The Chico Starz 12U ASA softball team, which includes players from Los Molinos, Vina, and Willows, along with Chico and Durham, recently traveled to Sacramento to participate in the first Emily Toy Memorial Tournament, earning first place in the Silver Division. The Starz includes
Emily Toy of Oakley's East County Hotshots 10U team became ill while playing last season in Stockton, and later passed away.
The Chico Starz played three games in pool play, going 0-2-1 facing some great Sacramento-area teams.
In Game 1, the Starz played tough against the Foothill Gold St. Dennis team of Shingle Springs. The game ended in a 2-2 tie, with great defense and tough pitching leading the way. Jennifer Larson pitched all five innings with two earned runs on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Leading the Starz at the plate were Sam Parisio and Dominique Jackson, both going 2-for-3.
The Starz fell in Game 2 to the Rocklin Hype, 12-0, in three innings. The Starz had only two hits while the Hype took advantage of four errors, five hits and six walks issued by Jackson on the mound.
In the nightcap against the MSC Tigers of Sacramento, Larson lost her control in the final inning. Entering in a 3-3 tie, she walked the bases loaded and gave up a walk-off single. Brittany January threw three innings, giving up three runs and three hits while striking out four.
Haley Mt. Joy, Larson and Jackson mustered the three Starz's hits.
The Starz were seeded into the Silver Division the next day, with the top six teams going up to Gold and the bottom four delegated to Silver for single-elimination play. The Starz faced the Saints of Sacramento in the opening-round semifinals, and pulled off a win on a final play at the plate.
The Starz's bats combined for 10 hits and four runs. Jackson was 2-for-3 with two triples to lead the way. Parisio and Sarah Gibson also had two hits apiece. Allyson Drury, Mt. Joy, and Taylor Hirschberg all had a hit as well.
Hirschberg's run ended up being the game-winner when a ground ball to third off the bat of Larson was thrown home but not in time, as Hirschberg slid safely into home.
Larson pitched a three-hit complete game with five strikeouts.
The championship game versus the California Rapids of Sacramento was blazing hot. The Starz were focused, ready, and performed beautifully behind Larson's no-hitter and the 12 hits off the bats of the Starz, winning 8-0.
Larson's performance was aided heavily by great defensive support, as the Starz committed just one error and turned two double plays.
Jackson led the offensive assault, going 3-for-3 with a 285-foot home run. Drury and January had two hits apiece and Larson, Shelby Baccala, Maddie Roach, and Parisio also had hits.
The Starz will travel to Reno this weekend to play in the Sierra Summer Classic at the Golden Eagle Sports Complex.
