After four competitive series of softball in the first-ever AUSL Cup, a champion is crowned. Catcher Kayla Kowalik edged out pitcher Rachel Garcia to win it. Kowalik had 1,590 total points to Garcia’s 1,448 points as pitcher Keilani Ricketts and outfielder Erin Coffel finished third and fourth, respectively.
Another individual award winner was outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena, winning the All-Star Cup Impact award. This honor acknowledges an athlete for their civic leadership endeavors both on and off the playing field. Nickles-Camarena supported Athletes in Action as part of the Athlete Causes program throughout the AUSL Cup.
Speaking of the AUSL Cup, the final doubleheader took place that saw great offense and pitching. What’s more, final goodbyes for players like catcher Jordan Roberts and infielder Anissa Urtez along with Victoria Hayward, Danielle Gibson Whorton, and Taylor Edwards. Here is a recap of the action.
Game 20: The Long Ball On Display In Rosemont
In a battle of the pitchers, Ricketts and Team Purple faced Garcia and the Blue team. Jessi Warren opened up the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the second for Team Garcia. She led the way with three homers in the AUSL Cup. However, Aubrey Leach gave the Purple squad the lead in the top of the third via a three-run homer to right field.
Photo Credit: AUSL
The 3-1 score gave Team Ricketts their second win of the series, handing Team Garcia their first loss. Leach and her efforts garnered her MVP 1 honors.
MVP 2 of the game went to right-hander Georgina Corrick as she went four-and-two-thirds innings. Corrick allowed two hits while striking out eight, leading the AUSL Cup with 39 strikeouts.
Garcia picked up MVP 3 honors, going the distance as she struck out 10. She finished behind Corrick with 35 strikeouts and threw an AUSL Cup-leading three complete games.
Photo Credit: AUSL
Finally, Sharlize Palacios got her second Defensive MVP honor of the AUSL Cup in this game.
Game 21: One Final Time At Parkway
Here, Kowalik and the Gold team squared off against Coffel and Team Orange in the final game of the series. Team Coffel wasted no time as they scored four runs in the top of the first. Sierra Romero hit a two-run single, Morgan Zerkle got a RBI with a sacrifice bunt, and Tiare Jennings‘ RBI double was the offense in the inning. Next, the Orange squad added three more run in the second. Hayward scored on a wild pitch as Coffel and Zerkle each hit an RBI single in the frame.
Photo Credit: AUSL
Team Kowalik responded in the bottom of the fourth with a Baylee Klingler RBI single while adding another RBI single in the fifth by Sierra Sacco. In the seventh, Paige Sinicki scored on a wild pitch and another Sacco RBI single.
Photo Credit: AUSL
Ultimately, it would not be enough as Team Coffel’s early offense allowed them to get the 7-4 win. Megan Faraimo won MVP 1 honors, going all seven innings in the win while Zerkle was the MVP 2. Hayward notched MVP 3 honors as Hannah Flippen was the Defensive MVP.
The inaugural AUSL Cup is in the books as we will find out if Kowalik can defend her championship next year.
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