FIRST FIVE ELIMINATIONS IN THE BOOKS

The Jacksonville (Florida) Storm, who were seeded third despite a 4-1 finish in Pool play, met Pool A’s fourth-seeded RGV Road Runners (McAllen, Texas) with the top seed from Pool B, the Lilburn T-Birds (Lilburn, Georgia), awaiting thewinner for a Saturday morning game. The Road Runners took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but Jacksonville scored six unanswered runs over the fourth (1), fifth (1), and sixth innings (4), to win and live to see another game.

The team that finished one spot ahead of the Road Runners in Pool A, the SF Contenders-VG (Miami, Florida) drew a matchup with Pool C’s fifth seed, the SF Contenders-ER (Miami). The Contenders-VG emerged with the win, 3-2, and will face the second seed from Pool B, Team FLA (Palm Harbor, Florida), tomorrow at 11 a.m.

The theory that the higher seed should win was in evidence when the E Pool’s fourth seed, the Lady Knights (Orlando, Florida) met the fifth seed from Pool A, the Dupage Side Kicks (Lockport, Illinois). A fourth inning single by Amy Tilleman would end up as the only consolation for the Side Kicks, who went home 7-0 losers, collecting just that one hit. The Lady Knights won in the runs and hits column in the second inning alone, when they recorded five runs on four hits. The game went just 41⁄2 innings, as the international “mercy run” rule was invoked. A game is called if a team is trailing by 20 runs after three innings, 15 after four, or seven after five. The Lady Knights move on to an 11 a.m. game tomorrow when they face the top seed from Pool D, the South Florida Connexion (Lantana, Florida).

Two teams that went 2-3 in Pool play met in a clash that would be long on defense. The Davie Power Black (Davie, Florida) blanked the (Kingsville) Texas Rage, 3-0, getting all of their offense in the third inning, to enable them to move on to a game tomorrow morning against the top seed from Pool C, the (San Luis Obispo) California Cruisers (4-1).

And, in a battle of two southeast Florida teams, the Miami Mini Canes eliminated the Nitro Girlz (Royal Palm Beach), 8-4. The fireworks started early for the Mini Canes with their second hitter, Jessica Hernandez, clubbing a solo home run. By the time the fifth inning was over there was another Mini Canes home run, 12 total hits and eight runs. The winners go on to face a northeast Florida team, Stacey’s Stars (Jacksonville), tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Following Pool play today, the teams were seeded, although the bracket play is split into two – a domestic bracket and an international bracket. The format will ensure a championship game pitting a U.S. team versus an international team. The international bracket begins play tomorrow morning with three games at 9 a.m.: Guatemala (4th seed) vs. Mexico (5th), Venezuela (3rd) vs. Ukraine (6th), and Chinese Taipei (2nd) vs. Jamaica (7th). The Philippines drew the number one seed in the international bracket and will play the winner of the Guatemala-Mexico game. The winner of Venezuela vs. Ukraine goes on to play the winner of Chinese Taipei vs. Jamaica.

The domestic bracket has two games among those scheduled for 9 a.m. tomorrow. The Tampa Mustangs Red, seeded third in Pool C with a 3-2 record, take on Pool D’s fifth seed, the 2-3 East Cobb Angels (Marietta, Georgia). The winner moves on to play the Tampa Spartans (5-0). And, in a battle of 2-3 teams, Pool C’s fourth seed, the Twilight Twisters (Winter Haven, Florida), meets the Sarasota Quicksilver, the three seed from Pool D. The winner will then face the Southwest Florida Scream.

Games run throughout the day on Saturday, with start times of 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. Play concludes on Sunday with the two games in the Championship Bracket. The tournament is taking place in Plant City, Florida in Plant City Stadium and the adjacent Randy L. Larson Softball Fourplex. The event is free and open to the public (only a small parking fee is being charged).

Day 4 Results (POOL PLAY)

POOL A
Tampa Spartans 11, Dupage Side Kicks 0
Philippines 4, RGV Road Runners 0
SF Contenders-VG 10, Dupage Side Kicks 1
Tampa Spartans 4, Philippines 0

POOL B
Lilburn T-Birds 1, Team FLA 0
Chinese Taipei 9, Ukraine 1
Team FLA 4, Davie Power Black 1
Lilburn T-Birds 11, Nitro Girlz 2

POOL C
Tampa Mustangs 9, Twilight Twisters 3
Rock N Fire 14, Mexico 2
California Cruisers 4, Tampa Mustangs 0
Twilight Twisters 3, SF Contenders-ER 1

POOL D
East Cobb Angels 6, Shogun 1
Venezuela 6, Texas Rage 4
SF Connexion 4, East Cobb Angels 1
Shogun 5, Sarasota Quicksilver 3

POOL E
Guatemala 7, Jamaica 0
Jacksonville Storm 3, SWF Scream 2
Miami Mini Canes 7, Jamaica 2
Lady Knight 2, Guatemala 0

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