OKLAHOMA CITY – Making history as the first Co-Champions of the USA Softball All-American Games, Region 3 Stars and Region 5 Freedom suspended play in the fifth inning of last night’s Championship contest due to lightning in the area. Ongoing weather in Oklahoma City forced the end of the night to come earlier than expected with the cancellation of the final two innings and the crowning of Co-Champions, but the energy and spirit of the annual event stayed strong until the end.
Both squads entered the Championship game with an undefeated record in pool play and three-straight wins in Sunday’s single-elimination competition to return to USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium – OGE Energy Field for the title game. Region 5 Freedom tallied two shutout victories on Sunday while outscoring its opponents 27-1 in bracket play while Region 3 Stars fought through the opposite side of the bracket – posting eight runs in each of its first two games before clinching a 1-0 win over Region 10 Stars in the semi-final contest.
Championship action started quick with Region 5 Freedom getting on the board early after taking advantage of a walk and a fielding miscue, scoring one in the top of the first and recording a three-up, three-down inning in the bottom of the frame to return to the plate. A base hit and a walk for the Freedom set the stage for a two-RBI double – putting Region 5 on top, 3-0, after two at-bats. Region 3 Stars looked to get something started in the bottom of the second with a leadoff single to left field, but a pair of strikeouts and a ground out left the runner stranded without crossing the plate.
The bats fell silent on both sides of the field as defense dominated the game through the third and fourth innings before Region 5 Freedom struck again in the top of the fifth with another walk and two singles to extend the lead. An RBI ground out tacked on a fifth run for the Freedom before a line out ended the inning with Region 5 up, 5-0. Attempting to sway the momentum, the Stars opened the bottom of the frame with a hard-hit ball to force two errors – giving the squad a runner in scoring position with no outs. A single to the outfield would score Region 3’s first run of the game but a lightning delay quickly ended the rally, and ongoing storms in the Oklahoma City area forced a cancellation of the final two innings – resulting with the two teams sharing Co-Champion honors.
Made up of athletes from Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky, Region 3 Stars showed out this weekend with five-straight wins in seeded pool play and bracket competition – including an 11-run opener and two shutout victories. With three triples, two doubles and 34 singles, the squad scored a total of 33 runs while reaching base via walk or hit-by-pitch 13 times. Shining like Stars on the rubber, the Region 3 pitching staff totaled 22 K’s while limiting its opponents to five earned runs.
With a team full of Texans, Region 5 Freedom stayed consistent throughout the weekend, averaging over eight runs per game for a total of 53 runs scored across six contests. The team hit for a .339 average with 43 hits highlighted by 13 doubles, five triples and three home runs. A staff five players deep, Region 5 Freedom pitchers combined for 27 innings in the circle – allowing only two runs on 10 hits with 35 strikeouts and a 0.26 ERA.
Each athlete at the 2023 All-American Games was selected to the event by their designated USA Softball Region to represent their geographic area, with additional at-large bids given to regions with the highest registration. The event ranks as one of the most prestigious in its age group – as the selection process creates a stage for elite-level competition and opportunities for athletes to gather from all across the country. For more information on the USA Softball All-American Games, visit USASoftball.com.