McKinney, TX, Sunday, June 7, 2015 – The Dallas Charge got an outstanding performance from Australian National Vanessa Stokes in the circle Sunday night, but it was not enough. Stokes allowed three runs on nine hits, keeping the Pride scoreless through five. The Charge offense managed just one run on five hits, two from Renada Davis including her first career home run. The Pride’s Chelsea Thomas got the win and Jordan Taylor earned the save.
After a scoreless top of the first, Renada Davis came to plate to lead the Charge attack. With one swing of the bat, Davis sent a rocket into the left field bleachers to put the Charge up 1-0. Davis said “it was a great feeling. I saw my first pitch was an inside and low pitch which is one of my favorite pitches. I knew she was going to throw it again and I was gonna get ahold of it. Sure enough she threw it again and I got ahold of it.”
The Charge managed just five more base runners in the game, three hits and two walks.
Pitching and defense would dominate the game from that point till the sixth inning, when the Pride bats came to life.
Amanda Kamekona hitting for Breja’e Washington singled up the middle. Washington returned to run and promptly stole second. Shelby Pendley singled to advance Washington to third and then swiped second. With no outs Kelly Kretschman drove the ball up the middle to plate the two Pride runners and take the lead 2-1. Madison Shipman then popped out to center and Andrea Duran singled to load the bases. Stokes induced a ground ball back to the circle, the start of a 1-2-3 double play, the defense’s second twin killing of the game. Lauren Chamberlain popped up in foul territory to end the frame.
The Charge mounted their only other serious threat in the bottom of the sixth when the home team loaded the bases with one out. Singles by pinch hitters Nicole Morgan, Katilyn Richardson and Renee Erwin gave the new club a real chance to even the score. Jordan Taylor relieved Thomas in the circle for the Pride. She put out the fire, getting a strikeout and fly out to right.
Brigette Del Ponte would hit a leadoff homerun in the top of the seventh to push the lead to two runs and end the scoring.
Vanessa Stokes, who went the distance, would suffer the 3-1 loss for the Charge.
Davis, says that “the more [the Charge] comes together as a team, the better we become,” and only expects greater things for the games ahead. Rookie Renee Erwin from West Texas A&M who made her NPF debut in the outfield and with a successful bunt for a single in the 6th inning says this game “was an amazing experience. We were down 2-1 when I went in and I knew the team needed me and I needed to make something happen. I feel like we played really well tonight and it will only get better each game.”
The Dallas Charge will host the USSSA Pride again on Monday this time at 6 p.m. CT. You can find the game on CBS Sports or view live stats at www.dallascharge.com
Box Score
About Dallas Charge
The Dallas Charge will begin competition in the National Pro Fastpitch league in 2015. The Charge will provide elite softball players the opportunity to pursue a professional career and inspire the next generation of professionals. Located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, the Charge organization and its players are committed to demonstrating leadership in community involvement, entertainment, and professionalism. Follow the Dallsa Charge at www.dallascharge.com
About National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport has operated since 1997 under the name of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of fastpitch softball since 2002.