“There’s always something to play for.”, Blaze Head Coach Alisa Goler
Blaze Continue to Finish Strong
I will open by saying, the one thing that I love about this league is the willingness to continue the push through the end. These are professionals in every sense of the word, and the team I have been impressed with the most in the second half is the Blaze.
The Blaze came back to Rosemont with a couple of games left in their season. Knowing that their season’s fate has already been decided, they could have easily gone through the motions and dragged themselves across the finish line. However, the culture and determination to finish doesn’t allow this team to do that.
Blaze Jump on Bandits Early in Rosemont
Blaze took on the Bandits, who are headed to Tuscaloosa after this short two-game series is over, and they jumped on them fast en route to a 12–6 victory at The Stadium at Parkway Bank.
The first inning went back and forth, as the Blaze jumped out to a 2–0 lead with both Aubrey Leach and Ana Gold scoring. The night was only beginning for those two.
The Bandits responded in the home half with a three-spot. They went at Aleshia Ocasio and tallied four consecutive hits to start their rally, including a two-RBI single from Erin Coffel that brought home Skylar Wallace and Morgan Zerkle.
Coffel later scored on a groundout from Jordan Roberts, and Bandits fans probably thought it was business as usual. Slow start, bounced back, lead taken. 3–2 Bandits.
Blaze Explode in the Second and Never Look Back
The Blaze wouldn’t have it. They continued to hit Taylor McQuillin in the second, eventually chasing her from the game. It just wasn’t the night for her, as the Blaze tacked on six more runs that inning.
McKenzie Clark scored on an Aliyah Andrews RBI, and a couple of batters later, Baylee Klingler added a two-RBI double to right field, making it 6–3.
Blaze wouldn’t be done, as Ana Gold wrapped the scoring up with a two-run shot to make it 8–3. Gold was the last hitter McQuillin faced.
Morgan Zerkle added a home run to her amazing season for the Bandits in the bottom of the second to make it 8–4, but the Blaze would not allow the Bandits to even come close the rest of the way.
Historic Night for Leach, Gold Shines, Binford Dominates
With amazing nights from Aliyah Binford in the circle, Aubrey Leach and Ana Gold in the batter’s box, as well as contributions from the rest of the team, the Blaze pretty much cruised the rest of the way.
Aubrey Leach stamped her name in the AUSL record books. She is the first to accomplish a five-hit game. Not only did she record five hits, but she brought in two RBIs and scored three runs. Leach is on another level in this game of softball. The consistency and outstanding will is top notch. She is a pro.
Aliyah Binford pitched a clean four innings. She only gave up four hits and struck out five. Binford earned her first win of the season. Sidenote, she just came on after the break.
Ana Gold, a very popular candidate for Rookie of the Year among other awards, finished tonight 3-for-5 with two home runs, five RBIs, and three runs scored. She became the fifth different player to hit two home runs in an AUSL game this season.
Gold has been nearly unstoppable in this Blaze lineup, and the future is bright. I hope this Blaze team stays together going into next season. This team has a ton of potential to be great. Their record definitely does not speak to the kind of team they are. Sometimes numbers do tell lies, depending on what conclusion you are drawing.
Coach Goler on Character and Culture
Postgame, I asked Coach Alisa Goler how it felt to see her team continue to finish through the end.
“I think I’m just proud. The character piece is what it is. It’s not a matter of skill in this league. Every roster with as small as the roster sizes are. It’s all skill. It’s filled with it. It’s filled with competitive people. But I think the heart and the grit piece. And to have a group. It’s not just one or two people. It’s an entire team that’s doing it. It’s really special.
“And for some of them they may never have even experienced that in college, because you don’t always have cultures like that in college. Sometimes you just have really good teams that play well, and I think a lot of them are truly enjoying being a part of what we’re doing, and I think they love each other. Like I see it every day.”
Pride and Purpose Remain
As for the notion that they have nothing to play for, Bandits beat writer Bruce Miles asked Alisa Goler and Ana Gold what they thought about that opinion from some. There is always something to play for.
“Yeah. Oh, we have something to play for. If you ask them they’ll tell you they want to come out tomorrow, because if we win and the Volts lose, we slide into third. I believe. Yeah, so that’s what the conversations have been, and I love that. There’s always something to play for.”
“Even if we didn’t have a chance to move up, it’s still a pride thing, and it’s still the fact that they’re athletes that want to continue playing and making money. Like there is always different parts of it. We talk about it with them all the time, because we want them to have long careers and get paid,” said Blaze Head Coach Alisa Goler.
Final Game Ahead
Blaze and Bandits will finish up the series Wednesday, and that will wrap up the regular season. It has gone way too fast.
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