Ontario Field of Dreams goes two and two at state
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:46 AM PDT
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| Submitted photo
Field of Dreams player Erika Hopper fields a ball from center field against the Magic Valley Sooners in the 2008 Idaho State Tournament that was held at the Willow Lane Sports Complex in Boise July 11 through July 13. |
Argus Observer sports staff
Boise—The 16U Field of Dreams softball team struggled a bit at the Idaho state softball tournament this past weekend, but, in the end, head coach David Hopper said the team gained some valuable experience.
In the opening game, FOD lost to the Idaho Ice 11-5, despite breaking the ice in the top of the first inning 1-0.
Hopper said his team had some good pitching, but defensively, they threw up.
The Ice saw the FOD one run and raised them three more for a 4-1 lead. Then in the sixth inning, the Ice plated five runs on two hits and two errors for the final margin of victory.
In Game 2 of the tournament, the Field of Dreams rebounded with a 6-2 win over the BF Bandits, as they pounded out seven hits and held the Bandits to three hits.
Game 3 of the tournament had the FOD battling the Boise Blast, with the Field of Dreams winning 10-7.
“We played our best ball all season in games two and three,” Hopper said.
In the Field of Dreams final game of the tournament, the FOD was pitted against what Hopper said was the best team the Field of Dreams has seen all year in the Sooners.
The Sooners blanked the Field of Dreams 10-0 and eliminated them from the tournament.
“I was proud of the way the team battled,” Hopper said. “We made a few mistakes, but I feel that the team is coming together at the right time.”
The Field of Dreams has been plagued by injury this season. So much so that they had to drop out of the G.A.L.S. league because, at one point, Hopper did not have enough girls to field a team.
But with a few recruits, the team was back in business, and Hopper likes what he is seeing right now with the team.
The Field of Dreams team will next embark on an adventure of a life time — the Triple Crown World Series in Park City, Utah — according to Hopper.
“Some of the girls I have coached in the past said the event was the greatest thing they have ever experienced,” Hopper said.
The Triple Crown World Series will begin July 21 and run through July 26.
