The Daily Dispatch
 The Douglas Border Brats show off their state championship trophy after winning the ASA tournament in Kingman last weekend. The championship was the fourth straight for Louie Tartaglia and 10th since the Border Brats were formed 18 years ago. The Border Brats will compete in Prescott in two weeks in the Best of the West tournament. |
With the win the Border Brats now qualify for the Best of the West tournament in Prescott July 27-29.
Katie Campbell and Erika Tapia each pitched for Douglas with Campbell going six innings and giving up five runs off 11 hits while fanning four and failing to allow a walk.
Tapia threw the last inning and gave up no runs off one hits while fanning two and walking one.
Bullhead City led 3-0 going into the bottom of the second inning when Douglas rallied for four runs taking a 4-3 lead. The Brats tacked on another run in the third before scoring two more in the fourth increasing their lead to 7-3.
Bullhead City scored two more in the fifth pulling within two.
Veronica Tartaglia and Lina Campbell were both 2 for 4 with RBI's. Jackie Gonzalez and Lenei Haynes each were 2-3, Tapia, Katie Campbell and Alexis Quintana all 1-3 with Campbell and Quintana having triples and RBI's and Amy Victoria 1-2 with an RBI.
"Our bats finally came alive the way we knew they could and the entire team contributed in some way to help us succeed," coach Gina Tartaglia said. "We got a little lazy near the end but pulled it back together and earned another state championship."
The Brats opened up tournament play against the Lake Havasu Scorchers and came away with a 3-2 win.
Tapia was the winning pitcher this game going all seven innings and giving up two runs off nine hits while fanning three and walking two.
Douglas trailed 2-1 going into the top of the fourth when the Brats scored a run tying the game at 2-2. Douglas then took the lead with a run in the top of the sixth.
Tapia hit 2-4 and had a triple for Douglas. Katie Campbell was 2-3 with a double and an RBI. Lina Campbell 2-3 and Jackie Gonzalez and Victoria Mariscal both 1-3.
"The girls were a little nervous and the bats didn't come alive," Tartaglia said. "They fought hard and eventually pulled off the win."
Later that same day Douglas faced the Bullhead City Insanity and came away with a 5-4 win.
Tapia and Campbell each threw this game with Tapia throwing two and a third innings in relief of Campbell who went four and two-thirds.
Lina Campbell hit 2-4 with a triple, Amy Victoria 2-3, Tapia 1-4 with an RBI, Katie Campbell 1-4 and Jackie Gonzalez and Victoria Mariscal both 1-3.
"This was a very exciting and hard fought game," Tartaglia said. "Down by two in the top of the sixth inning and only eight minutes remaining in the time limited game, Lina Campbell led off the inning with a triple and was brought home with a single by Jackie Gonzalez to pull within one. Alexis Quintana then walked and both runners advanced on a passed ball with Haynes up to bat. Haynes laid down a beautiful bunt which forced a throwing error and allowed Gonzales to score, tying the game. The next two batters were put out and a tough defense held the Insanity with two runners on in the bottom of the sixth."
Tartaglia said time ran out after six innings and with the score tied the international tiebreaker rule was used. Victoria was put on second base to start the inning and was quickly brought in home with Tapia's single. A tough defense held the Insanity in the bottom of the inning as the put-on was thrown out as she tried to steal third. This win moved the Brats into the championship game.
Going into the championship game Tartaglia said the Border Brats were very nervous to play this team as this is the same team we had to defeat last year for the championship after they knocked us into the losers bracket in a twelve inning, two and a half hour game.
"We knew they really wanted to beat us but the our team played hard and never gave up even after being down near the end and came away with another win," the coach said.
Tartaglia said she and the rest of the Border Brats appreciate all the support the community has given them with their fundraisers and hope they continue to support them as they work to raise money to get to their next tournament.
"We also would like to thank our sponsors Ortega's Stores, Inc., Southern Arizona Auto, Maddux and Sons and Southeast Arizona Medical Center for helping make our travel possible," the coach said.
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