The Quick Story: Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio threw a two-hit shutout and corner infielder Baylee Klingler drove in two runs as Team Kowalik (1-0) collected a 5-0 victory over Team Ricketts (0-1) to complete Friday night’s Athletes Unlimited Softball League All-Star Cup doubleheader at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.
Key Moment: Team Kowalik plated two runs in the top of the second inning on a double by corner infielder Paige Sinicki. The squad added a single run in the fifth inning before two more runs scored on a triple by outfielder Korbe Otis in the seventh inning. Ocasio, meanwhile, did not allow a hit after the third inning while notching two strikeouts in the victory.
Leaderboard Update: Catcher Kayla Kowalik extended her advantage on the leaderboard to 462 points over pitcher Rachel Garcia after her squad swept all 130 possible win points. Ocasio, the game’s MVP 2 selection, moved into ninth place in the league standings after finishing with a season-high 254 leaderboard points, while Otis elevated into fifth place on the strength of a 200-point effort.
Team Kowalik Notes
- Team Kowalik collected all 130 possible win points, marking the seventh win points sweep in 15 All-Star Cup games played this season … Teams captained by catcher Kayla Kowalik have accounted for four of the seven sweeps.
- Team Kowalik finished 9-for-19 in advancement opportunities, including a 5-for-16 mark with runners on base.
- Four of the nine hits by Team Kowalik went for extra bases … In addition, six of the team’s nine hitters registered at least one hit.
- Kowalik stands as the only player in the AUSL All-Star Cup field without a loss this season after upping her record to 8-0, including a perfect 6-0 mark as a captain … Team Kowalik has scored at least five runs in five of the six outings with Kowalik at the helm.
- The 5-0 victory marks the third shutout of the AUSL All-Star Cup season, including the second instance by Team Kowalik.
- Outfielder Sierra Sacco posted her second multi-hit effort in the All-Star Cup after opening the game with a single before adding another single in the top of the fifth inning … She also had two hits against Team Falby on August 20.
- Corner infielder Baylee Klingler has hit safely in five of her last six games after driving in a run with a single in the fifth inning … She was named MVP 1 and ended the game with a season-high 220 leaderboard points.
- Corner infielder Devyn Netz extended her hitting streak to three games with a double to left field in the second inning.
- Kowalik has registered a hit in all eight games after singling up the middle in the top of the seventh inning.
- Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio is the second player to throw a complete game shutout in the AUSL All-Star Cup this season … Pitcher Rachel Garcia allowed just one hit on August 2 in Team Lorenz’s victory over Team Corrick at Ting Stadium.
- Ocasio also becomes the fourth pitcher to spin a complete game during this year’s All-Star Cup, joining Garcia, Lexi Kilfoyl and Georgina Corrick.
- Outfielder Korbe Otis was recognized as the game’s Defensive MVP, becoming the 14th different player to receive the award this season.
Team Kowalik’s Next Game: Saturday, August 30 vs. Team Garcia | 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT
Team Ricketts Notes
- Team Ricketts was limited to just two hits, which is the second-lowest total for a team this season … Team Corrick was held to one hit against Team Lorenz on August 2 at Ting Stadium.
- Team Ricketts finished just 1-for-6 in advancement opportunities and were just 1-for-6 with runners on base … They advanced just one runner into scoring position.
- Middle infielder Sydney Romero has authored a hit in all eight games this season after recording a single in the third inning … She joins Kowalik as the only players in the AUSL All-Star Cup to have a hit in all eight possible games.
- Middle infielder Aubrey Leach has a hit in four of her last five appearances following her single in the second inning … She finished 1-for-2 with a walk.
- Pitcher Odicci Alexander-Bennett (0-1) suffered the loss in the circle after giving up two runs on three hits over 1.1 innings with one strikeout.
- Pitcher and team captain Keilani Ricketts threw 4.2 innings of relief in Friday’s nightcap, allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout … She falls to 1-3 as a team captain this season.
Team Ricketts’ Next Game: Saturday, August 30 vs. Team Coffel | 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT