Members of the Carolina Cyclones are (left to right): Bottom row: Brandi Hatley, Megan Quick, Jena Pate, Taylor Cheek, Katie McLaurin, Victoria Lisk. Top row: Brianna Harris, Sierra Clark, Destiny Morrison, Bailey Jacobs, Steely Russell and Clancy Russell.
The 16-and-under, Scotland County-based softball squad brought home a first-place finish from the USFA Showdown tournament that was held this past weekend.
Carolina earned the championship by winning Sunday's international tie-breaker game over the Carolina Heat by a score of 3-2.
“Our coaching staff is very pleased with the effort our team gave this weekend," said Cyclones Assistant Scotty Jacobs. "We were in a very competitive bracket."
In the first game on Saturday, Carolina faced the Carolina Black Widows in pool play. Cyclones picked up a 7-1 victory.
Bailey Jacobs went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Cyclones. Destiny Morrison was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Megan Quick (1-for-3) and Katie McLaurin (1-for-2), each added an RBI. Taylor Cheek finished 1-for-2.
Quick also picked up the win inside the circle, allowing just two hits and striking out five. McLaurin got credited with the save.
In the first of four meetings with the Heat, the Cyclones earned a 3-1 win.
Brandi Hatley went a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish with a double. Sierra Clark (1-for-2) and Jacobs (1-for-3) had a hit apiece.
Jacobs, along with Steely and Clancy Russell, combined to surrender just one run in the win.
Bracket play began that afternoon with Carolina facing the Velocity from nearby Fayetteville. The Cyclones cruised to a 16-0 win.
Carolina got a strong outing from (Steely) Russell, who fanned nine batters in a three-inning shutout. She also went 1-for-1.
Quick had a big game at the plate to lead the Cyclones, finishing 3-for-3 with five RBI's. Morrison went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs. Hatley (one RBI) and Harris also finished 1-for-2.
(Clancy) Russell and Victoria Lisk each went 1-for-1 with an RBI.
Carolina closed out play on Saturday with a 6-2 win over the Whiteville Impact.
Harris paced the Cyclones hitting with a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs. Clark went 2-for-4 while Jacobs finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Cheek and Hatley (RBI) each finished 1-for-2.
Jacobs also earned the win inside the circle, striking out four in six innings of work.
In the first game on Sunday, the Cyclones suffered its first defeat of the tournament, 1-0, to the Carolina Heat. The loss moved them into the loser's bracket.
McLaurin finished 1-for-2 with a double while Jena Pate went 1-for-1.
With the road to the championship game made a little more difficult, the Cyclones staved off elimination with a 3-1 win over the Carolina Stingers, thanks in part to an eight-strikeout performance from (Steely) Russell. She pitched five innings.
Morrison finished a perfect 2-for-2 to lead the Cyclones. Cheek and Hatley each finished 1-for-2 with an RBI. Harris drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Quick finished 1-for-2 while Lisk went 1-for-1.
Needing to beat the Heat twice, the Cyclones took care of business in the first game, winning 13-4 to set up the championship game.
Clark paced Carolina with a 2-for-3 game at the plate with a double. McLaurin also joined Clark with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with a double. Jacobs finished 1-for-1 with a triple while Harris also went 1-for-1. Quick batted 1-for-2.
Playing with the international tie breaker rule in effect (a three-inning game) the Cyclones pulled out a thrilling 3-2 win.
Down 2-0, Clark stole home on a wild pitch to tie the game up. A bunt by Cheek, allowed Morrison to score, tying the game at two.
Quick brought in the go-ahead run with a triple to right field, scoring (Steely) Russell.
Clancy Russell, who picked up win with three strikeouts in three innings of work, shut down the top of the Heat's lineup to preserve the win.
"The outstanding bunt that Cheek executed and the hit that Quick contributed, set the tone for the win," Jacobs said of the winning run.
The triple was the only hit of the game that Quick had, finishing 1-for-2 and Cheek finished 1-for-1.
The Cyclones will return in action this weekend when they travel to Raleigh to play in the WFC Battle at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex
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