To prepare the team for their High School Teams ICE played in two High School Level tournaments over the 2023 Winter season. Playing one day tournaments would put the girls against High School Level competition and smooth their transition from 16U travel ball to High School Softball. As a pure 2027 graduation year team getting to challenge older players would help improve their softball IQ.
The team opened against a heavy 2025 graduation team in MOJO Ultimate. That was a complete eye opener, taking a 9 to 1 beat down in their very first game at that level. It was complete domination by MOJO; at the end of the game a few parents question if the girls were ready. Coach and I responded with “they are in High School now if they believe they are good enough to make their schools varsity team then they should be able to play at this level.”
The girls got better as the day progressed. They lost a heartbreaker to PTX Elite by the score of 4 to 3. Bruised but they fought and with an error as time expired, they allowed NTX Stars – Walker to drive home 2 runs as they ICE fell 5 to 4. That loss forced a rematch against MOJO Ultimate.
The rematch showed a different team. Coaches made an adjustment of moving our catcher, Candace, to the outfield and turning over all catching duties to the MAC. That small adjustment changed the dynamics of the team. The outfield was catching everything while running line drives down. With that adjustment the team battled to a 5 to 3 loss.
Although, we do not like celebrating losses, the sure domination MOJO had over ICE in the 1st game compared to the battle that ensued the second game showed our girls that they belonged.
As the girls resumed practice in preparation for their 2nd tournament a Christmas battle in Dennison Texas there was optimism in practice. The girls arrived at their next tournament ready to battle in the High School division. They opened up with a convincing win against Dynamite 25/26 team with a score of 7 to 3.
Their confidence got the best of them against the NTX Stars again…..The lead the entire game 2 to 0 and allowed two runners to get on base with two outs in the bottom of the last ending. The next hitter smashed a homerun in walk off fashion Ice fell 3 to 2. Heading into the bracket they met Dynamite again and like the 1st game they won 7 to 4.
That win forced a elimination game against MOJO Ultimate. During this tournament our catcher ‘MAC’ had an emergency and could play so the team enlisted a guest player to fill the gap. The guest catcher was hurt by a ball in the prior game, but the coaches decided to stay with her.
Heading into the MOJO game the catcher was at 50%, but the rest of the team battled….. it was a tight game. In the bottom of the 3rd inning with the game tied the catcher injuries started to impact her ability to catch the ball so with two outs and two runners on base the team manager requested that the coaches put Candance back at catcher. As that request went in, MOJO crashed the ball deep left field to the warning track……and Candance was playing close to short…..she turned and bolted like lighting to make the catch and the out…. allowing the team to head into the final inning tied at 2.
With that catch there was no way the coaches were changing left field it was time to see if our 8th grader was ready to play. MOJO was able to hold our offense to zero points and we headed into the bottom of the ending tied. Man did the 8th grader play. Mojo got a single to 1st of a line drive, then a pop up foul caught out by the catcher. Next bat was a 6/3 out but moved the runner to 2nd. Next batter 2nd attempted to steal third and was thrown out by the catcher…..the 8th grader stepped in and did her thing. Extra innings.
In extra innings Ice lead off of Candance and Alyssa did what they do — get on base and score ending the top of inning with a score of 4 to 2, but MOJO was not going to be upset that December day with a few bang-bang plays and a little bailing out by the umpires MOJO survived as ICE fell and was eliminated from the tournament 5 to 4.
At the end of the second tournament all eyes moved towards high school ball and the preparation for summer travel after high school ball ends.
We are extremely proud of these girls.
It AMAZES me every time I say it…….ICE was a 14U C-Level team that couldn’t beat anyone when 2022 ended but by year end 2023 they were a competitive High School level team.
Coach Jackson and Coach Brad intense practices changed the level of play. We are looking forward to 2024.