2006 Season in Review

ASA National Championships

Winning back to back ASA Women's A & B National Titles, the Sliders Women's team decided to make their first appearance at the Women's Majors National Championships. Located in Amherst, New York, the Sliders were one of two California teams making the trip to participate in the 4-day tournament. The Sliders came off a strong summer finish by winning the ASA California State Championship and posting a 14-2 overall record heading into New York.

The tournament consisted of 14 teams with pool play beginning on Thursday afternoon. The Sliders won their first two games against the two local teams, Amherst Lightning Brooks (5-0) and Amherst Lightning Kulwick (10-0). Winning Pool B, the Sliders started bracket play Saturday morning with a 8-0 victory over the Buffalo Bisons, advancing to the second round against the 2005 Women's major 2nd place finishers, the Stratford Brakettes. The highly anticipated winner's semifinal game against the Brakettes held it's high expectation in the meeting of the two teams. The Brakettes beat the Sliders 6-5 in 8 innings by International Tie Breaker. The loss against the Brakettes put the Sliders in the loser's bracket were they would have to play 3 games, back to back to back starting at 8:30 Sunday morning to get to the championship game.

The Sliders came back the following day with a 4-1 victory against the Amherst Lightning Kulwicki then advanced further with a 4-1 victory against the Saint Louis Saints. The Sliders then faced StormUSA who just came off a 5-0 loss against the Brakettes in the final winner's bracket game contest. The Sliders showed no fatigue as they came out strong with a 1st inning solo homerun from leadoff batter Lisa Modglin. The Slider's beat the Storm by a 4-2 margin. In the championship game, the game was scoreless until the 3rd inning. The Brakettes came out first by scoring one in the 3rd and three each in the 4th and 6th innings. The Brakettes hurler Candace Baker shut the Sliders out until the 6th inning. The Slider got to Baker scoring twice in the 6th inning and one run in the 7th evening but fell short in their 7-3 loss.

For their first women's major apperance, the 2nd place finishing Sliders displayed strong performances throughout the tournament.

Individual awards include;First Team All-American: SS - Amanda Kamekona; OF- Katie Cochran; OF- Lisa Modglin; Utility - Michelle Smith; Pitcher - Lorilyn Wilson. Second Team All-American: 1B - Deann Young Bertha Tickey Pitching Award - Lorilyn Wilson

Record in 2006: 20-4

ASA National Ranking 2006: #2

ASA California State Ranking 2006: #1