Geneva Foxes 16U place fifth at series

The Geneva Foxes 16U Blue team placed fifth at the USSSA 16U "B" World Series held in Salisbury, Md.

Competing against 58 teams from 13 states, the Foxes finished 5-4 for the week. After going 1-2 in a tough pool (fifth, ninth and thirteenth place finishers), the Foxes entered the championship bracket as a No. 3 seed, where they won four straight games.

In the opening round of championship play, the Foxes defeated the Methacton Magic 2-0. Gianina Ludwig pitched a 1-hitter and struck out four. Reggie Rizzo's first inning RBI that scored Danielle Caprile was all the Foxes needed. In the second inning Nikki Davis scored on a fielder's choice to add an insurance run.

The Foxes then faced Lower Mac from Pennsylvania, which entered the tournament with the second highest USSSA power rating of all the teams in attendance. The Foxes won the seesaw contest 7-6 behind Kristyn Ruitenberg's pitching. She escaped a late jam and allowed with four earned runs on eight hits. With two outs and runners on second and third, Danielle Caprile made a running catch to end the game. On offense, the Foxes were led by Dee Phalon's two runs and Jordyn Searcy's two RBI.

Seeking to reach the elite eight in the winners bracket, the Foxes faced the New Berlin Magic and won 4-2 under international tie-breaker rules. Ruitenberg threw a complete game win, giving up two earned runs on five hits. In the top of the eighth, Caprile scored on a fielding error and then Rizzo knocked in Phalon to add an insurance run.

Going for the final four, the Foxes took on the USSSA state champions, the Crystal Lake Tidal Wave. The lead changed four times and the Foxes trailed 6-5 going to the seventh. Caprile led off with a walk and Amy Hersheway followed with a sacrifice bunt. Phalon followed with a game tying single and Rizzo also singled, putting the winning run in scoring position. The next batter, Searcy, slammed the first pitch down the right field line, scoring Phalon for the walk-off win. Running on fumes, the Foxes lost their last two games to the Heath Crush (he eventual tournament champs) and PA Vipers.

The Foxes named Jordyn Searcy as their team's Most Valuable Player, Danielle Caprile as their Most Valuable Offensive Player and Reggie Rizzo and Kait Pennybacker as Co-Most Valuable Defensive Players. Kristyn Ruitenberg was also named to the All-Tournament team.