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franklin county times

Xplosion lives up to its name

By Staff
GOT IT n New Hope Lady Trojans' Tori Harris makes a sliding catch in right field for an out. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
August 5, 2001
When you think of Oklahoma City, Okla., and explosions, probably the last thing you think of is girls' slow-pitch softball.
The Xplosion team from Oklahoma City is doing its part to change that. After a 19-7 loss to the Columbus (Miss.) Lady Raiders early Saturday afternoon, Xplosion outscored its final five opponents 69-9 to win the 2001 ASA Girls 16-Under National Tournament at Northeast Park.
Xplosion swept Albany (Ga.) Crush 13-0 and 12-4 in the final two games of the 26-team tournament.
Xplosion has done well in national tournaments this summer.
After the loss to the Lady Trojans from New Hope, Xplosion bombed its final five opponents. In addition to the wins over Crush, Xplosion defeated the Mississippi Diamond Dusters 8-2, the Satsuma (Ala.) Lady Rebels 12-0, and the New Hope team 24-3 in the third place contest.
Xplosion blew past Crush 13-0 in the first championship game. Xplosion scored four times in the second inning to go up 6-0 and added five more runs in the third to break the game open. Two runs in the bottom of the fourth led to the run rule after 4 1/2 innings.
Crush got half of its six hits in the top of the first inning, but left the bases loaded without scoring.
Xplosion pitcher Shala Bell kept Crush popping the ball up as nine of Crush's 15 outs came on fly balls.
Amanda Sanchez, Felicia Padgett, Sarah Ohanjanianse, Laci Parks, and Arissa Cody each had two hits for Xplosion. Shandes Chappell added a two-run single.
Shae Kennedy had a pair of singles to pace Crush's six-hit attack.
In the 12-4 Xplosion win in the second championship game, Crush jumped out to a 2-0 lead after an inning and a half. Xplosion tallied five times in the bottom of the second with Padgett ripping a two-run single to make it 5-2.
Taylor Truelove slapped a two-run double in the third as Xplosion added five more runs to take a 10-2 lead.
Bell again had Crush popping up as 12 of the Georgians' 21 outs came on fly balls.
Bell also had a fine night at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a two-run triple. She had three RBIs.
Padgett also had a sacrifice fly to go with her two-run double to drive in three runs for Xplosion. Sanchez, Chappell, Tiffany Truesdell, Ohanjanianse, Parks, Tanna Truelove, and Cody each had two hits. Kelli McGlasson scored two runs for the winners.
Crush got three hits from Kennedy and two each from Misty Whittington and Rachel Fowler.
Xplosion and Crush have met seven times this summer with Xplosion holding a 5-2 advantage, Nelson said.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or call him at 693-1551, ext. 3234.

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