Stigler Sparks win Rampage Rumble Tournament
The Stigler Sparks won all three of their games on Saturday to win the Rampage Rumble Tournament Clarksville, Ark, which included seven teams. The Sparks received a bye and played the winner of Patriots and Base Blazers.
Sparks pitchers Avery Williams and Dally Engle didn't allow a single hit, as Sparks defeated Base Blazers 11-0. An early lead helped propel Sparks to victory when Kambry Williams singled with two outs to score two runs. The Sparks' bats came alive in the fourth inning, scoring seven runs to clinch the game. This big inning was driven by a triple by Caitlyn Lovett, double by Ava McLemore and two home runs by Payton Rea and Engle. The Sparks stole 11 bases. Engle led the way with three stolen bases. The Sparks did not commit a single error in the field, sending them into the next round against the Texas Glory.
The Sparks took the lead late in a 4-3 victory over the Glory. The Sparks were down 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Rilee Williams got the Sparks riled up when she steals first on a dropped third strike. The Glory buckled under the pressure, allowing Jordan Johnson to reach first on another dropped third strike. Williams home on the same wild pitch. Johnson made her way around the bases and stole home for the second run. Payton Rea drove the ball to second base to get on first. Engle hits an inside the park home run to right field. The Glory had one more shot to put the Sparks down and fell short when Cambry Cook set down two batters and Engle and Johnson trapped a runner, picking her off stealing second to close the game and put the Sparks in the championship game.
The Glory came back from the losers bracket defeating the Fort Smith, Ark., team Lady Logistics, to battle another round with the Sparks. The Sparks won the coin toss and took the field, allowing the Glory one run. Once again, the Sparks struggled against the Glory's pitcher, who is ranked second in the state of Arkansas. Dally Engle scored a run on a dropped third strike tieing the game. Avery Williams sent two batters to the dugout, and Engle makes a catcher-to-shortstop throw to Johnson, who initiates a rundown for the third out. The Sparks could not get their bats warm in the bottom of the second. Cook was strong on the mound in the top of the third, the Glory was swinging at everything she threw without making connection. Rilee Williams laid a bunt down to get on base, which led her to score the second run of the game for the Sparks.
Williams made another great play in left field when the Glory hit a hard fly ball in her direction, banking the out to seal the 3-1 victory for the Sparks. Rilee Williams had the most hits for the Sparks and tore up the base path by stealing three bases. She also received the MVP award for the Sparks.
The Sparks received wooden bats for trophies.