RBI Softball All Stars: They Got Game

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It had been three years since the Marlins RBI Softball team recorded a victory at regionals, but this year’s team armed with sparkling defense and young up and coming stars were ready to take on the beasts of the southeast.  The ladies received a favorable draw, only one game on Friday against Atlanta, last year’s champions. In what proved to be a close game early on, highlighted by freshman Chanel Wilson running down a deep fly ball up against the wall, the ladies played a strong defensive game. With ATL leading 1-2 through three innings, the Marlins couldn’t keep up with Atlanta’s speedy offense that would eventually outscore them 1-9.

Needing a sweep in day two in order to play in the championship game, the ladies gave Tampa (2010 World Series runner-up) a scare early on. So much so that in the second inning they got their ace up in the bullpen who they had been saving for the championship game. Unfortunately, they could not force their hand and despite a couple defensive gems by Samantha Konwai at third base, costly errors in the infield led the to the game getting out of hand. The Marlins were 0-2 going into their final game against Montgomery, but what would ensue would be a game worthy of an ESPN Classic replay.

Battling a bruised ankle that forced her out of the previous game, Chantell Stiff would get the start in what would be her final pitching performance in her three year RBI All Star run. She went four strong innings, leaving with the game tied at two apiece and handing the ball over to Tiffany Turman. What happened next was sheer dominance, as Tiffany opened the 5^th by striking out the side and tacking on another 2 K’s in the 6^th. Headed into the 7^th Atlanta would get the leadoff runner aboard and eventually with a runner on second and one out, a clean base hit was smoked to right field. Megan Diaz was seeing her first action of the tournament and with the winning run rounding third, the right fielder fired a perfect strike to nail her at the plate. Now one out away from getting out of the jam and a runner on second, Atlanta scorches a line drive down the line that third baseman Kayla Hernandez stabs and diving towards third, made the tag on the runner trying to advance. The stands erupted and it looked like the Marlins would pull out the win in the bottom half. The game, would go 8 innings and despite Tiffany ending the same way she started, striking out the side, the Marlins would go down in order in the bottom half and end in a tie.

The record books will show a tie game between a couple of 0-2 teams, but for those who participated and the spectators who were in attendance, they will tell you it felt as though they were in the championship game. For this team comprised of predominantly underclassmen, at one point even fielding an infield whose average age was 15, they proved that they could play with the best RBI has to offer. Stay tuned, because the youngest team in the tournament just finished getting their feet wet, and in 2013… look out!

2012 RBI Softball Team

Megan Diaz, OF

Kayla Hernandez, Catcher/Third Base

Samantha Iglesias, Second Base

Ashley Jarquin, Fiesta Base

Samantha Konwai, Third Base

Daniela Madotta, Short Stop/Catcher

Amy Martinez, Outfield

Priscilla Molliner, Second Base

Angelina Muñoz, Second Base

Jissel Ramos, Outfield

Cristina Rodriguez, Outfield

Gaby Rodriguez, First Base

Tiffany Turman, Pitcher/Outfield

Chanel Wilson, Outfield/Short Stop