Elmhurst Emeralds 12U Champs Of Carol Stream Fall Travel Softball League.

ELMHURST, IL – Under first-year head coach, Erin Sours, the Emeralds finished the regular season at .500 and earned the #5 seed in the playoffs. What followed for the Emeralds was truly magical! The Emeralds pulled off three straight upsets to take the title on Wednesday night at McCaslin Park. During the playoff run, the Emeralds defeated the Carol Stream Storm, Elmhurst Cougars and Warrenville Misfits, avenging two regular season losses to the latter two teams.

In the championship game, Francesca Kavanaugh did it all. She took control in the circle pitching a complete game yielding just three runs and striking out eight. At the plate, she helped herself out by going 4-for-4.

The bats were on fire for the Emeralds all night, hammering out 14 hits. Maya Kantor went 2-for-3 driving in two runs in the first inning to open up a three-run lead. In the second inning Cameron Bucolo slapped an infield single and finished the night 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base.

In the third inning the Emeralds broke it open with six runs starting with an RBI double by Addison Reschke, a 2-RBI single by Caitlyn Jasper (2-3) and a 2-RBI single by Sofia McMillan, who made the game-winning catch in the semi-finals. Valentina Cucucciolo led off the 5th inning with a home run to right field.

In the sixth inning the Emeralds finished it off. Sarina Sheth led off the inning with a walk which was followed by another walk to Emerson Orel. Then, with runners on second and third, leadoff hitter Michaela Miller smashed a home run to dead center field, scoring three. Later in the inning Arianna Panopoulos earned a hard fought walk and Sarina Sangha singled to right field scoring the final run of the game…on her father’s birthday!

After the game, Coach Sours commented, "I am so proud of what these young ladies have accomplished in such a short time." She continued, "The players started the season slowly, we were all new to each other and needed some time to gel as a team. They continued to work their tails off in practice and the improvement showed tonight."