PGSL teams take 1st, 2nd places in Summer Classic PGSL teams take 1st, 2nd places in Summer Classic (August 04, 2000)

Head for Western softball finals in Texas

by Jeb Bing

Pleasanton's Phantom girls softball teams won first and second place awards in last weekend's 10th annual PGSL Summer Classic tournament at Sports Park.

The Phantom Under 14s beat the San Carlos Force 6-2 in a closely played game for the first six innings. Tied 2-2 at the top of the seventh and final inning, the Phantom broke loose, scoring another four points. They held the Force in the bottom of the inning to win the game.

Across the field, the Phantom Under 12 girls softball team took second place, falling to the powerhouse East Valley Twisters from San Jose 5-1. The score was tied 1-1 for the first six innings. In the top of the seventh, with two outs, the Twisters rallied to score four runs and put the game away.

Both Phantom teams leave next Monday for Texas and the ASA Sanctioned 'B' Western tournaments. The Under 14s will play in Midland while the Under 12s play in College Station. The games start Tuesday following opening ceremonies, with each team playing in three qualifying games the first two days before starting elimination games Thursday. The tournaments will end Sunday.

The fast-paced, fast-pitch ASA tournaments are the largest n the country, with the Western games involving teams from most states west of the Mississippi.

Ten of the 12 girls on the Under 14 Phantom team played together two years ago as Under 12s.

"When they started out, we expected them to be an average team," said Tom Compton, head coach of the Under 12 in 1998 and this year's Under 14s. "Instead, they won 19 games in a row, won four tournaments and went on to finish ninth in the Western championships."

With a season record of 30 wins and six losses, the Phantom Under 12s are also among the top fast-pitch girls teams in the West.

A total of 52 teams competed in last week's Summer Classic tournament in Pleasanton. Other winners were Visalia Spirits Blue, Under 10s; East Valley Twisters (San Jose), Under 12s; and the Mountain View Chaos in the Under 18 age group. <@$p>