Photo by Jordan Haiduk
Emporia Energy pitcher Amber Jones throws a pitch against the Topeka Legit on Sunday. Emporia went 3-3 in its own tournament to finish in a tie for third.
A dislocated shoulder couldn’t keep the Emporia Energy’s Amy McAfee from pitching in her team’s home tournament on Sunday.
Unfortunately for the U-18s, it was the bats and not the pitching that needed the boost, as Emporia fell 2-1 in its final game to the Coffeyville Sluggers to finish in a tie for third out of nine teams at the Mike’s Sporting Goods Summer Slam.
“What’s going to make the difference between winning and losing is if we can put some hits together,” Emporia coach Jeff Lynch said.
That held true Sunday, as the Energy couldn’t get enough going offensively against Coffeyville pitcher Megan Hoppenstedt to fall one win short of the championship game.
Emporia had just two hits against Hoppenstedt — a double from Brittney Dymnioski in the fourth and a single from Javyn Carl in the fifth.
“(She) was a lot faster, so I think we were off-balanced,” Emporia’s Amber Jones said. “It kind of threw us off a little.”
Photo by Jordan Haiduk
Emporia Energy first baseman Elyse Hecht, left, underhands to second baseman Hannah Lynch to get an out during Emporia’s game against the Topeka Legit on Sunday at Trusler.
Meanwhile, Emporia was able to hang in the contest because of a courageous effort from McAfee.
In a tournament three weeks ago, McAfee dislocated her non-throwing shoulder while swinging at a pitch.
The doctors said her injury wouldn’t require surgery, but it would need physical therapy.
After sitting out the last two weeks, McAfee returned in her team’s home tournament with a large black brace on her shoulder.
“I was a little rusty starting out the first couple games,” McAfee said, “but this game, I kind of got back into the groove.”
Despite being restricted in her movement because of the brace, McAfee allowed just two runs in her complete-game effort.
She struck out two and walked just one.
The more difficult struggle came for McAfee in the batter’s box, as she batted ninth and was told to only bunt because of the limited motion in her shoulder.
“It’s very hard, because I’ve always been more of a power hitter than a bunter,” McAfee said. “It was very hard to hold back, but I knew it was probably for the best in the long run.”
The temptation still ended up getting to her: After getting two strikes in her final at-bat, McAfee mustered a three-quarters swing and connected on a groundout to third.
Emporia scored its only run in the third.
Elyse Hecht walked to start off the inning, and after a McAfee sacrifice bunt, Amber Jones reached on an error.
McKenzie Cinelli followed with her own sac bunt to score Hecht and make the score 2-1.
The Energy never could get any closer, though it did have a chance in the sixth.
With two outs, Carl singled, then Shelby Florentin followed with a grounder that was thrown away by Hoppenstedt.
Emporia couldn’t capitalize, though, as a groundout ended the inning.
The Energy, which finished 3-3 in its home tournament, made the semifinals by taking a 2-1 victory over the Topeka Legit on Sunday morning.
Jones picked up the win after having her confidence shaken in the game’s first at-bat.
After throwing a curveball that didn’t break, Jones watched as Topeka leadoff hitter Hannah Weiler sent a home run over the wall in center.
“I didn’t let that bother me,” Jones said. “I just had to keep throwing, and everything ended up working out. I didn’t get down on myself.”
Jones was dominant the rest of the way, allowing just one more hit over the next seven innings.
She struck out six while walking three.
Emporia picked up all the runs it would need in the third.
With one out, Jones tripled to right field, and Cinelli followed with a bunt single to put runners on the corners.
After Cinelli stole second, Kylee Scott came through with the clutch hit, driving a single up the middle that scored both runners.
Hannah Lynch — who also battled through an injury, pitching Saturday even though she will need shoulder surgery after the season — had Emporia’s only other hit.
In pool play on Saturday, the Energy took a 6-4 victory over Neosho Valley before losing to the Coffeyville Sluggers, 9-1.
In its other two games on Saturday, Emporia defeated the El Dorado Rage, 4-0, and lost to the Topeka Legit, 5-0.
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