LAS VEGAS- The Sparks (41-15-2) put together a 2-1 slate on Friday, eventually earning a tie for 25th place in the ASA Class A National Tournament. Orland Park put together a 7-2 mark in Las Vegas before bowing out of the 139-team national tourney. The Sparks advanced farther than any other Illinois entry.
Sparks 13, Missouri Rattlers 12- Katie Sears belted a two-run triple and Maddie Joyce homered in the eighth-inning of a crazy victory. The Sparks led, 8-2, then needed a two-out RBI-double by Kat Allert in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings before outscoring the Rattlers, 4-3, in the eighth.
Alexandra Seplak was 4-for-5 with two steals and four runs, Krista Watson was 3-for-5 with two RBI and Jacki Fletcher and Jenna Mychko each knocked in three runs.
Sparks 8, Michigan Elite 4-
After rebounding from a 4-3 deficit, the Sparks scored four in the bottom of the sixth before Natalie Wunderlich closed the door in the seventh. Fletcher, Mychko and Cassie Walisiak (two) all knocked in runs in the sixth. Seplak finished 4-for-4 with a steal and two RBI, Mychko finished 3-for-4 and Walisiak was 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Florida Ultimate 1, Sparks 0- A fourth-inning homer proved to be the lone run of the contest, as the Sparks managed just four hits and did not advance a runner to third base. Seplak, Fletcher, Joyce and Megan Bolanowski each went 1-for-3.
Sparks 8, Clovis Rockets 2- Seplak was 3-for-3 with three runs and Mychko went 2-for-4 with two RBI to back winning pitcher Stephanie Becker (18-2, four-hitter, 10 strikeouts). Julia Katsaros belted a double and had an RBI, while other RBI came from Seplak, Katie Healy, Fletcher, Joyce and Bolanowski.
Compuware 3, Sparks 1- Orland Park outhit its foe, 6-3, but yielded three unearned runs and was not able to complete a comeback. The Sparks (38-14-2) stranded eight baserunners, including seven in scoring position. Fletcher knocked home Healy for the lone run, while Seplak was 2-for-4. Wunderlich was the tough-luck losing pitcher, allowing just three hits and striking out six.
Sparks 5, Clovis (Calif.) Rockets 3- Seplak went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Becker (17-2) fanned 11 and didn't allow an earned run to key the victory. Joyce was 2-for-3 with two steals, while Fletcher, Bolanowski and Allert also knocked in runs. The Sparks were 6-for-6 on the basepaths in steals as Healy (two), Bolanowski and Katsaros also had thefts.
Sparks 3, Texas Rapid Fire 0- Wunderlich whiffed 10 and scattered five hits in firing the shutout, while Mychko clouted her second homer in as many games. Fletcher was 2-for-3, while Seplak and Healy also added RBI. Watson was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks, and Allert and Allison Larrabee each scored runs.
Sparks 11, So Cal Stealth 3- Mychko belted a two-run homer and had three RBI and Fletcher was 3-for-4 to ignite the Sparks in the pool play opener. Watson (double) and Allert each went 2-for-4, while Seplak also knocked in a pair of runs to support winning pitcher Stephanie Becker (16-2, three-hitter, seven strikeouts).
Sparks 5, New Jersey Pride 0- Becker and Wunderlich (15-7) combined on a one-hitter with six strikeouts and the Sparks finally broke open a scoreless tie in the fourth inning of a tuneup on Sunday. Cassie Walisiak ripped an RBI double and Maddie Joyce notched an RBI single. Watson and Julie Bartosz also scored on wild pitches and Walisiak tallied the initial run on a broken play.
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