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Third Place Tournament Finish For 12U Girls
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Escalon All-Star 12U Softball finished with an impressive third place in the 2009 Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament played at the Reno Sports Complex, July 17 through 19.

On Friday, the girls started out playing their first game against Team Delta, bringing home a 15-0 win. Escalon made only one defensive error and Haley Yandell pitched a no hitter. Kayla Swanson was the team's big hitter, going 4-for-4 with three singles and a triple. Also helping out the cause were Kaitlynn Mayfield, Savannah Guerra, Kymi Tompson, Lauren Ballard, Justine Lawrence, and Kelly McCulley, all with singles. The game was called after four innings because of the mercy rule.

Saturday morning the girls faced the host team, North Valley Nightmares. Escalon was again able to stay in the winners bracket with a 7-4 win. Haley Yandell got the win and Lauren Ballard got the save. Escalon had 12 hits in the game. Haley Yandell went 4-for-4 with three singles and a triple. Also helping out were Kymi Tompson with three singles, Lauren Ballard with two singles and Justine Lawrence, Kayla Swanson, and Kelly McCulley all with one single.

Saturday night the girls were handed their first loss in a tough, hard played game against the Lodi Extreme. Lodi came out strong, scoring two runs in the first inning and another two runs in the fourth inning. They held Escalon to only two hits, a single by Lauren Ballard and another by Haley Yandell.

Sunday morning the girls faced the Concord Glory, last year's Regional winner. The Glory, a team that plays tournaments throughout the year, handed Escalon an ugly 19-2 loss that sent Escalon home with a third place finish. Concord only allowed Escalon four hits, singles by Cindy DeFreitas, Kayla Swanson, Lauren Ballard and a double by Kymi Tompson.

Big hitters for the tournament were Kymi Tompson batting .714, Kayla Swanson batting .545, and Lauren Ballard and Haley Yandell both batting .500.

Escalon Babe Ruth Manager Crystal Ballard and Coaches Jim Ballard and Steve Mayfield were pleased with the team's performance and the third place finish.

The three thanked the girls for all their hard work and dedication and congratulated them on an awesome season.