One of the most lethal top of the line ups in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) has returned.
Maya Brady, reactivated from the seven-day injury list, was back in the leadoff spot for the Oklahoma City Spark on Saturday night. With one of the best bats in the league, Sydney Romero, right behind her, the pair led the team to a run-rule victory over the Portland Cascade.
Brady was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk in the 12-3 win. Romero registered two hits, including a double and a home run, while driving in five runs.
“This is the best we’ve played yet,” Head Coach Amber Flores said. “Every facet of the game, we executed.”
Flores was quick to point out that the team went 1-5 without Brady.
“To be able to have just her presence alone in the lineup – it’s huge. It puts a lot of pressure on the pitcher, opposing defenses, but she’s special. And I think we’ve got the best one, two, three punch in the league. I really do. I’ll stand by that,” Flores said.
She also credited the bottom half with improved at-bats that rolled it back over to Brady and Romero, especially with the upcoming stretch being key to the team clinching a spot in the playoffs. Bubba Nickles-Camarena also drove in two runs with a single to left field.
Rookie pitcher Maya Johnson earned the start and picked up a win, upping her record to 3-4 after she gave up only one run across four innings.
“We have a clear understanding that the next nine games are huge,” Flores said. “When we get Jessi [Warren] back tomorrow, that’ll be the first time all season we’re a complete team. So I’m excited. I think this is an incredibly deep, talented roster.”
The Spark will host the Cascade again on July 5 at 8 p.m. CDT at Tom Heath Field in Oklahoma City, OK. The game will air live on ESPN.
Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter for the AUSL. You can follow her on Instagram @savvyco.
