July 31-August 1    -     Report by Michael Saaf

Sting 9, Novato Heat 9

Riding high after last week's stellar performance in Rohnert Park,
the Sting faced the host team, Novato Heat, in their Saturday
opener.

Sting fell behind early, down 5-1 after three innings, but came roaring
back in the fourth. Isabel Lavrov led off with a double over the right
fielder's head and was singled in by Adi Saaf. Subsequent singles by
Claire Kaneko, Grace Rusin, Mallory McCrane, Robyn Wampler and
Aida Baron plated five more runs and the Sting was on top, 7-5.

Novato answered back with four runs in the bottom of the 4th,
making it 9-7 Heat with time slipping away.

Adi Saaf singled to start the 5th and took second on an error by
the Heat left fielder. Claire Kaneko followed with a line-drive single
up the middle, knocking in Saaf. Kaneko stole second, moved over
to third by Grace Rusin and came in on a wild pitch to tie the score.

Isabel Lavrov relieved workhorse, Robyn Wampler, in the 5th to
try and preserve the tie. Lavrov walked the lead-off hitter, but the
winning run was gunned down by a great throw and tag by Grace
Rusin (throw) and Amelia Galbraith (tag). After striking out the next
hitter, Isabel walked the bases loaded and went 2-0 on the batter.
The Sting faithful cheered for strikes and they got strikes as Lavrov
fanned the Heat #5 hitter on three straight pitches to end the 5th
and preserve the hard fought tie.

Sting 12, Petaluma Steal Breeze 6

Up next was Petaluma, who had dispatched Novato 16-0 the night
before. The Sting dug in their heels and sent Robyn Wampler to
hill for her second straight start.

Table-setter, Aida Baron, started things off with an infield single and
then Robyn Wampler was hit by a pitch. Isabel Lavrov blasted a
single to right, scoring Baron. Adi Saaf walked and Wampler
scampered home on a wild pitch. Claire Kaneko grounded out,
knocking in Lavrov and moving over Saaf, who promptly strolled
home after the Steal Breeze catcher threw the ball away. Four
runs in for Sting.

With the score now 4-1, Sting went back to work, started by an
Amelia Gabraith hit by pitch. Abigail Cain walked. Aida Baron
reached on an error, scoring Galbraith. Robyn Wampler singled
in Cain. Isabel Lavrov drove in Baron with a sharp grounder to
second and Robyn Wampler zipped home on a pitch to the
backstop. 8-1 Sting.

Petaluma kept the heat on, scoring two in the bottom of the 2nd
and three in the bottom of the 3rd. With the score 8-6, Sting
rattled the bats once more.

Sting started the 4th with three consecutive singles from
the bats of Aida Baron, Robyn Wampler and Isabel Lavrov.
Adi Saaf, Claire Kaneko and Maeve Gallagher then walked,
bringing in two. Adi Saaf scored on a wild toss and it was 12-6
Sting.

Robyn Wampler took to the hill for her eighth inning of work
on Day 1. Petaluma's lead off hitter crushed the first pitch into
left-center field for what looked to be extra bases, but Maeve
Gallagher charged in and stabbed it for the first out. Maeve
said after the game, "I kind of spaced out, but I heard the crack
of the bat, looked up and there it was." One big hit, one big out.
Petaluma kept pushing, getting the next two hitters on base
by a single and a walk, but the Sting defense was strong.
Isabel Lavrov hauled in a high infield pop and Amelia Galbraith
nailed the last batter by a hair, third to first.

Oakland Vipers 15, Sting 2

Next on tap was Oakland, who the Sting had not faced since
June in Alameda. Isabel Lavrov took the mound and pitched
valiantly against a tough lineup of Viper hitters.

The score was 1-1 after one and a half innings, but the Vipers
exploded for 10 runs in the second on 3 hits and 9 walks.

Sting tried to answer on an Aida Baron hit by pitcher and Robyn
Wampler single, but could only plate one run.

Oakland tallied four more runs and the game was over, 15-2.

Sting 8, Rohnert Park Rebels 2

Sunday brought a later start, thanks to a 1-1-1 Saturday by
the Sting. Luck of all luck, the Sting drew Rohnert Park, who
they had battled to a 3-3 tie two weeks earlier. There was
unfinished business for the Sting, who had fought back after
being down 3-0 to Rohnert Park and had endured the worst
display of bad sportsmanship seen all season.

Robyn Wampler toed the rubber for her third start in 24 hours
and faced the same tough Rebel hurler from the 3-3 tie two
weeks prior.

It was a pitcher's duel of the first order for three innings. The
Rebels scratched out a run on a single, steal and two wild
pitches. Sting threatened in the 3rd, loading the bases with two
outs only to be snuffed by a great catch by the right fielder
on an Isabel Lavrov smash. After three, 1-0 Rebels.

There were more coach/umpire exchanges as Rohnert Park
was called for an illegal substitution, but this time there
was no shouting, no ejection and much less drama.

The pressure was building.

Sting got on the scoreboard as Claire Kaneko singled, stole
second and was driven in by a worm-burner, up the middle
off the bat of Robyn Wampler. 1-1 game.

With Wampler running from 2nd, Maeve Gallagher chopped
a high hopper to first. As the Rebel first-sacker made the
play casually at first, Wampler snuck around third and had
crossed the plate by the time the throw came towards home.
2-1 Sting. Amelia Galbraith walked. On three straight pitches,
Galbraith stole second, took third on a wild pitch and then
scored on another stray offering. 3-1 Sting.

Rohnert Park came back swinging, scoring a run on a walk
and a solid single. 3-2 Sting.

As time was expiring, the Sting knew the game was in the
balance. Aida Baron led off with a walk on five pitches. Baron
then stole second and third. Adi Saaf then followed with a
moon-shot to right that rolled to the fence for a stand-up triple.
The Sting fans roared and cheered for more. They didn't have
to wait long. Isabel Lavrov hit a ground ball double that was hit
so hard that it went past the pitcher and the center fielder. Saaf
scored and it was 5-2 Sting. Claire Kaneko singled, scoring Lavrov.
Kaneko stole second and was singled home by pitcher, Robyn
Wampler. Cheers of "WAM-PLAH! WAM-PLAH!" echoed from
the Sting bench as Robyn stole second, stole third and stole
home. 8-2 Sting.

In what was maybe the pitching performance of the summer,
Robyn Wampler faced down the Rebels in the bottom of the
5th. This was it.

Wampler struck out the first Rebel looking on a 3-2 change up.
One down. Next pitch, come-backer, pitcher to first. Two down.
The Sting rooting corps was on its feet, howling for out number
three. Robyn pitched two balls and then got it it right back to
her, pitcher to first, 1-3 for out number three.

Jubilation!

Oakland Vipers 8, Sting 1

It was fitting that the Sting drew Oakland, who had routed
them 15-2, in the semi-finals. The Sting wanted revenge at
best or at least, a better game against the Vipers.

Isabel Lavrov started for the Sting at pitcher and held the
Vipers to a sole tally in the first. The Sting answered in the
bottom half to tie the game 1-1 on an Aida Baron walk, a
Viper error and a wild pitch. A bigger rally was snuffed
thanks to a great grab by the Vipers' second-sacker, who
snagged a line drive off the bat of Robyn Wampler and
converted it into a double play, catching a Sting runner
off second. 1-1 tie, after one.

Oakland then did what they do best, run the bases and
make the most out of what they're given. On one hit
and four walks, the Vipers plated four runs by stealing three
bases and forcing seven wild pitches.

Robyn Wampler relieved Isabel Lavrov and kept the
game in reach, giving up sole tallies in the 3rd, 4th and
5th.

The Sting bats, however, could not get them back in the
game. Even Head Coach Mattison Peters' lucky daisy chain,
worn around her neck, could not bring in the runs for Sting.
The Viper hurler went the distance, allowing only one hit
(Maeve Gallagher), while walking only four and striking out eight.
Final score, 8-1 Vipers.