Flash Staff Report
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STPEHENVILLE (July 20, 2017) — Kiersten Fincannon and the Dublin defense took the bomb out of the Belton Bomb Squad in a 8-1 win Thursday morning that makes the Dominators the formidable favorites to win the Texas Teenage Softball 10U Championship in Mildred.
Dublin faces Troy, the only other unbeaten in the tournament, at 8 Thursday evening, but after al lthe top seeds in the tournament drew positions in same side of the bracket, Dublin has already beaten TTAS heavyweights Belton and Rogers, who were among the favorites entering the five-day state tournament.
Fincannon has a shutout and a no-hitter while allowing just three runs in the four wins, which are a new Dublin youth sports record. The Dominators of last summer became the first Dublin team to win a game in a TTAS state tournament, gong 3-2 and finishing sixth. Dublin also guaranteed itself a record finish at the event, as the succession of dominant performances has guaranteed a place among the top three.
Dublin head coach Tommy Cisneroz said Belton was the best team all year at making contact against Fincannon, gut it wasn’t always solid and it rarely gave the Dominators any trouble.
“It was a different way of shutting a team down than we’re used to from Kiersten, but that’s why she’s special is she can adjust and beat you however she needs to,” said Cisneroz of the ace pitcher who will complete her summer on the diamond with a trip to California for a national select tournament.
“What was great about today was the way the defense got involved and helped her as much as they have at any point all summer,” Cisneroz said. “This was really a complete team victory.”
There were nervous moments of the second straight game. After falling behind of the first time all season when Rogers began the scoring in a 6-1 Dublin win on Wednesday, Belton did the same with an early run Thursday.
But Dublin continued the similarities to Wednesday’s win with another big fourth inning being the key.
“Avery Johnson had one of the most important at bats all season for us, and it ended up just being a hit by pitch,” said Cisneroz. ‘But we had the bases loaded, we’re trying to get ahead, and she’s down 0-2 but battles back into it and the pith that hit her would have been ball four anyway and forced the run in.”
Johnson bats in the 2-hole for Dublin, right before Fincannon and her catcher, Chloee Cisneroz.
“Avery knows her role, and just like so many players on our team, she makes sure she gets her job done every game. That’s why we’re undefeated is because every one of our girls take care of their job in every game,” Cisneroz said. “And sure enough, she does her job, and then here come Kiersten and Chloe with big hits behind her.”
Cisneroz said Cree Hicks also had a big hit for the Dominators, who have outscored their four tournament opponents 37-3.
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