For the week of July 17 - 23, 2002

Gary’s shags championship hardware

Caldwell squad rolls out the carpet

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There are slow-pitch softball teams out to have a good time and other softball teams that are strictly business. Gary’s Carpet of Caldwell belongs in the latter category.

Formed solely as a tournament squad, Gary’s (45-3 season) claimed top honors in the eighth annual Pitch ‘Em in Ketchum women’s softball tourney at Atkinson Park Sunday.

On a hot, sunny day, Gary’s knocked out the Boise Heat 26-7 in the championship to win its sixth tournament title of the season. Gary’s has won all six tilts it has entered—in Boise (2), Salt Lake, Jerome, Carson City, Nev., and now, in Ketchum.

Gary’s outfielder Julie Schoen of Twin Falls said, "One of the biggest reasons our team is so successful is everyone gets along so well."

Unity and a .574 team batting average can take you a long way and Gary’s had good bats and solid gloves all weekend long.

Paced by the tournament’s leading hitter, catcher Shelly Hart (.777), Gary’s dominated the field, outscoring its opponents by a combined score of 104-26.

"They are scary," an opposing player was heard to say during a game against the Caldwell squad.

No one argued with that view.

After surviving three back-to-back games in the losers’ bracket on Sunday, the Heat did not have much gas left in the tank for the finale.

Leading 3-1 Gary’s broke open the game with a six-run third and tacked on another eight runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

Local entry, Bigwood Body & Paint/Silver Dollar Balltrappers (3-2) won the consolation bracket for the second year running by defeating the Ball Frogs from Jerome 9-8. Sandy Dryer scored the game-winning run.

Trappers coach Rocky Johnson remarked, "We were missing some key players, but the girls that filled in did a great job. Everyone stepped up."

Johnson named Tosha Brown and Amy Desy co-MVP’s for their inspirational play.

The other Ketchum entry, Thornton Heating went three and out in the 10-team field.

 

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