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Tourney title in Shawnee lands Braves in nationals

By Shawn Linenberger - | Jul 6, 2005

Hey Mickey and Goofy, meet the Tonganoxie Braves.

The Braves, a 16-and-younger softball team primarily made up of Tonganoxie players, qualified for the 2005 USSSA Elite World Series, which will be played Aug. 4-9 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

The Braves are just one of 12 teams across the nation eligible for the tournament. Tonganoxie will represent the Midwest at the tournament.

Tonganoxie qualified for the national tournament by winning the KCUSSSA Miken Super Elite NIT on June 25 at the Mid-America Sports Complex in Shawnee. The Braves won the tournament with a 5-1 record.

Amie Riddle was named All-Tournament MVP. She won the Miken Oklahoma City bat for her accomplishment. Riddle also earned the Outstanding Pitcher award, while Roxanne Grizzle was the Outstanding Offensive Player. Riddle and Grizzle joined Melissa Pratt, Ashlee Lohman, Tracie Hileman and Hannah Herrstrom on the all-tournament team.

Riddle and Amanda Albert shared duties on the pitching mound. Albert allowed two runs in 11 innings of work as she pitched a shutout. Riddle allowed four runs in 27 innings with two shutouts. The Braves, meanwhile were not shut out in their six games.

Offensively, Pratt had an out-of-the-park home run, her third of the summer, while Grizzle drove in key runs during the tourney.

The tournament title was the perfect gift for coach Pat Albert, whose birthday was June 27.

Albert, who suffered a mid-brain hemorrhage in January, has attended some of the Braves’ games this summer, but could not be at the most recent tournament.