Lionville Lightning 12U (2017-18) regain their winning ways and earn their 1st outright championship at the Big Vision 2018 Summer Solstice

The Lionville Lightning 12U (2017-18) played their best ball of the Spring Season on their 1st outright championship in the Big Vision 2018 Summer Solstice tourney (6/16 & 6/17) at the Big Vision Sports Complex in Leesport, PA. 

Sat - Game 1 - Pool Play:  Rachel Kleckner came to Randy Gumpert Field (South Campus) and meant business on Saturday, with two hits (single in the third and a single in the fourth) and a five RBI day to lead LL12U past Forks Thunder 12U (11-1) on Saturday. Lionville started things off with with two runs in their half of the 1st inning but Fork Thunder answered with one run in their half of the inning to cut the lead to 2-1. After a scoreless 2nd inning, Lionville tallied two more runs in the top of the 3rd inning by runs scored by Kayla Williams and Cece Petchkofski. Lionville tallied seven runs in the fourth inning with a complete team effort led by Taylor Hendricks (BB, Run Scored), Avery Kelly (BB, Run Scored), MJ Nicholson (BB, Run Scored), Mavica Mendez (BB, Run Scored), Jocelyn Slonaker (HBP, Run Scored), Kayla Williams (2 RBI Single, Run Scored), Camryn Eadie (RBI SAC), Cece Petchkofski (RBI Triple, Run Scored), and Rachel Kleckner (RBI Single). Taylor Hendricks was credited with the victory, surrendering one run on one hit over five innings, striking out five.  Lionville Lightning 12U scattered four hits with 10 walks and stole six total bases.  

Sat - Game 2 - Pool Play: Lionville Lightning 12U defeated Red PA Ball Hawks 12U (16-1) at Randy Gumpert Field (South Campus) on thanks in part to offensive power from Cece Petchkofski and the right stuff in the circle by Kayla Williams. Lionville kicked things off in the first inning when Cece Petchkofski singled on a 0-1 count, scoring Kayla Williams and Camryn Eadie.  Three additional runs were scored on timely hits by Rachel Kleckner (RBI single, scoring Cece Petchkofski) and by MJ Nicholson (2 RBI Double, scoring Kaitlyn Ward and Rachel Kleckner). Lionville scored more six runs in the second inning with a rally was led by singles by Kaitlyn Ward and Taylor Hendricks, a triple by Cece Petchkofski, and a double by Rachel Kleckner.  LL12u added another run in the third inning (single by Jocelyn Slonaker and a double by Kayla Williams) and four more in the fourth inning (singles by Rachel Kleckner and Mavica Mendez). Kayla Williams pitched Lionville Lightning 12U to victory surrendering one run on four hits over four innings, striking out three and walking one. LL12U saw the ball well, racking up 13 hits in the game with six walks and three stolen bases.  Lionville Lightning 12U didn't commit a single error in the field. Mavica Mendez had the most chances in the field with three from behind the dish.

Sun - Game 3 - Pool Play:  Despite allowing three runs in the fourth inning, Lionville Lightning 12U defeated Krush 12U 7-3 on Sunday at Randy Gumpert Field (South Campus). Lionville Lightning 12U fired up the offense in the first inning when Camryn Eadie scored on a Rachel Kleckner's single.  LL12U added another run in the second when MJ Nicholson scored on hard hit ground ball that resulted in a fielder's error. Lionville tallied five more runs in the third inning with big bats were led by Myah Scheirer, Kayla Williams, Cece Petchkofski, Kaitlyn Ward, and MJ Nicholson. Jocelyn Slonaker led the LL12U to victory in the pitcher's circle surrendering three late runs on four hits over five innings, striking out six.  Camryn Eadie, Rachel Kleckner, MJ Nicholson, and Cece Petchkofski each collected one hit to lead Lionville. Collectively, Lionville didn't commit a single error in the field. Mavica Mendez had the most chances in the field with six.

Sun - Game 4 - Pool Play:  Win And They Get In... was the motto for game four as Lionville Lightning 12U shifted fields and headed to the Whitey Kurowski Field (North Campus).  Lionville Blows Away South Jersey Blue Jays Black By 15 Runs and punch their ticket to the Final Four; single elimination play. Lionville Lightning 12U had all cylinders firing on offense on Sunday, winning big over SJ Blue Jays 19-4. Lionville Lightning 12U got on the board early by putting up a five spot in the first inning.  Camryn Eadie scored the first run of the game on a drop-third strike/wild pitch on Rachel Kleckner, who then later scored from third on another wild pitch. Two batters later, Kaitlyn Ward scored on a double to left field by Taylor Hendricks.  Taylor Hendrick scored on the next play when Avery Kelly grounded into a fielder's choice.  The SJBJ's bottom of the first inning rally fell short when they could only muster two runs before the inning came to close. Jocelyn Slonaker started off the second inning with a line drive single to center-field.  Playing a little small ball, Jocelyn Slonaker later scored the only run of the half-inning on a hard hit ball back through the circle by Camryn Eadie. Lionville tallied 4 more runs in the third inning to take a commanding 10-2 lead with singles by Rachel Kleckner, MJ Nicholson and Taylor Hendricks, a two-base error by Kaitlyn Ward and one-base error by Mavica Mendez. Lionville was able to stop SJBJ's attempt at a late rally but only allowing two more runs in the bottom half of the third inning. LL12U closed the deal by tallying nine runs in the fourth inning by hammering the throttle down and keeping the pressure on, lead by singles by Avery Kelly and Kayla Williams, a triple by Cece Petchkofski, fielder's choices by Myah Schierer and Mavica Mendez, an error on a ball put in play by Jocelyn Slonacker, and a double by Rachel Kleckner. Rachel Kleckner was the winning pitcher for Lionville Lightning 12U, surrendering four runs on two hits over four innings, striking out four.  Lionville Lightning 12U scattered 14 hits in the game and stole six total bases.  

Lionville finished pool play tied with two other teams (DelVal Venom 12U Elite and SWAT 12U) as the only undefeated teams (4-0) after pool play. LL12U headed to the Single Elimination Bracket play as the three-seed (53 RF / 9 RA).

Sun - Game 5 - Semi Finals / Elimination Game: Lionville Lightning 12U advances to their third Championship game after easily dispatching SWAT 12U (7-1) on Sunday at Randy Gumpert Field (South Campus).  Lionville Lightning 12U got on the board in the first inning when Camryn Eadie scored on a Cece Petchkofski double to left field. Cece Petchkofski and Kaitlyn Ward both crossed home plate later that inning off a double to left field by MJ Nicholson. SWAT 12U's lone run came in the bottom half of the first inning on a hard hit double to right center field. LL12U took the run back in the 2nd inning when Avery Kelly scored on a single to left field by Kayla Williams. Lionville added two more runs in the 3rd inning off a rock-shot/line drive double to into the right/center field gap by Kaitlyn Ward, scoring Rachel Kleckner.  Kaitlyn Ward later scored on an error on a ball put in play by Taylor Hendricks. LL12U added one additional run in the 6th inning to seal the victory on a double to right field by Taylor Hendricks scoring Kaitlyn Ward. Taylor Hendricks earned the win for Lionville Lightning 12U surrendering one run on six hits over six innings, striking out three and walking one. Kaitlyn Ward led Lionville with three hits in three at bats. LL12U defense was solid; not committing a single error in the field. Lionville Lightning 12U scattered nine hits, taking 13 total bases in the game and stole four total bases. 

Sun - Game 6 - Finals: Lionville Lightning 12U took the lead late in the game in a 3-2 victory over Honeychucks 12U Bellamore on Sunday at Whitey Kurowski Field (North Campus).  The final game of the long weekend was nothing less than spectacular. Both teams pitchers were on-point, throwing their best stuff at opposing batters and when balls were put in play, each teams defense backed-up their teammate in the circle with light-out defense.  Taylor Hendricks started in the circle for Lionville going three strong innings surrendering two runs on four hits striking out four and walking two. With the game tied 0-0 after 3 1/2 innings, the Honeychucks took the lead 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Lionville Lightning 12U evened things up at two in the top of the fifth inning. Taylor Hendricks kicked off the inning with a triple smashed over the left fielders head.  Taylor Hendrick's scored on an Avery Kelly bunt that pulled the Honeychucks first basemen off the bag while attempting to make a quick throw back to home.  With Avery Kelly at second, Mavica Mendez advances the runner to third with a ground out to first base.  Avery Kelly later scored from third on a Jocelyn Slonaker line drive single to left field on a 1-1 count. After a pitching change, Kayla Williams took to the circle; keeping the Honeychucks in check to roll the inning back to Lionville's offense. As the sun was setting on what was shaping out to be a perfect weekend of B-Class softball, the game was tied at two with Lionville Lightning 12U batting in the top of the sixth when Cece Petchkofski's single to center field and a stolen base started off the inning in Lionville's favor.  With one out, Kaitlyn Ward singled on the first pitch of her at bat, scoring Cece Petchkofski. With only three outs to go, LL12U took to the field. 

• Out #1 - Fly ball to right fielder Camryn Eadie. 
• Out #2 - Four pitch strike out by Kayla Williams. 
• Then came the moment everyone who waited 2-day, 22+ hours for ... Out #3 - On an 2-0 count, Mavica Mendez gave the signs, Kayla Williams rocked back (no 80-80-80-80 here) and fired to the plate.  Hard hit ground ball to third base.  Cece Petchkofski picks it cleanly!  And with a throw that felt like it took an eternity to get to 1st base... Rachel Kleckner made the catch!!! 

Kayla Williams was the winning pitcher for Lionville Lightning 12U, going three innings, allowing zero runs on two hits, striking out two and walking one. LL12U defense was solid; not committing a single error in the field. Lionville Lightning 12U scattered seven hits, taking nine total bases in the game and stealing three total bases.  

Congratulations to the Lionville Lightning 12U ladies who battled hard to a well deserved 6-0 tournament record (63 RF / 12 RA) and their 1st out-right Championship.  #One T.E.A.M - One Goal!!!