The Face of Women's Pro Softball

[sybarite]

If you haven't heard Hale's interview with Lauren Chamberlain today, you should give it a listen.
http://sportstalk1400.podomatic.com/entry/2015-07-14T12_12_14-07_00

Lauren has missed a few games with some back problems, just as she was beginning to hit. She didn't play in the three games this weekend, and they have been pinch-running for her every time she gets on base. Apparently, although she had a slow start, she is the "face" that they are using to sell women's pro softball. She has hit three home runs recently, and they were all instrumental in wins. But, she is only hitting 214 (up from about 120).

Shelby, on the other hand, has a strong leg up on Rookie-of-the-Year. She is at 303, good for a rookie, and has four home runs and twelve runs batted in. She won a game this weekend with a two-run double in the top of the seventh for a 2-1 come--from-behind win. She and Lauren hit back to back home runs to win another game last week (actually, there was a hitter in between who popped out). She has more hits than any other rookie.

If you get CBS cable sports network, U-Verse 643 in Dallas, the Chicago Pride are on at 6:00 tonight against the USSSA Pride. The Pride are 20-7. Chicago is 21-8. It's for the lead. Monica Abbott or Michelle Gascoigne will likely go for the Bandits. Keilani may be on the mound for the Pride.

 

[sybarite]

It turns out that the game was a duel of OU roommates: Keilani vs Michelle. Both went through two innings without much happening. In the top of the third, a rookie got the first hit of the game against Keilani. It also happened to be the first hit of her career, a home run. Then, a couple of infield hits and a couple of errors led to two unearned runs, and Chicago led 3-0 after three. It looked to be enough since Michelle was untouchable. Everyone was hitting popups, weak ones.

Then, with one out in the fifth, the Pride got the first two hits off Michelle, both ground balls. After the second out, two hitters hit line drive singles to make it 3-2. Then, Wiggins, who had played with Chicago last year, hit a three-run home run. That was it for Michelle. She came into the game with a 4-1 record and a 1.94 ERA. All five runs were earned. It just came out of nowhere. Five hits. The game ended 3-2 with Keilani getting her fifth win against one loss. The Pride have now won eight straight with Keilani pitching three of the eight. When they played in Chicago, Michelle had pitched a two-hit shutout against the Pride. The Pride is now a game ahead of Chicago about halfway into the season.