Recap: Team Leach clinches 11-4 win behind all-around team effort

Eric Rhew

Jun 24, 2023

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Team Leach erupted for 10 runs over a two-inning span and received a solid performance in the circle from pitcher Mariah Mazon to hand Team Warren its second straight loss, an 11-4 setback to complete the Athletes Unlimited AUX Softball doubleheader at Parkway Bank Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Team Leach opened its Series Three slate with a victory, while Team Warren dipped to 0-2 after losing both ends of the twinbill.

Mazon, who earned the second Game MVP honor of her AUX career, allowed four runs (two earned runs) on five hits over 6.0 innings with three strikeouts. The former Oregon State standout ended the day with a season-high 212 leaderboard points while running her record to 1-2 in the circle.

Team captain Aubrey Leach secured her fourth Game MVP award of the season following a 3-for-4 showing at the plate with three runs batted in. Leach reached the 200-point plateau for the second time this season after notching 200 points, including 60 stat points.

Outfielder Aliyah Andrews chipped in two hits and three runs batted in to claim MVP 3 notice while scoring twice, giving her 150 leaderboard points in the victory.

Five different players registered a hit in the loss for Team Warren, including a home run from team captain Jessi Warren. Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio (0-1) took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Team Leach sent all nine batters to the plate in a six-run second inning to build its lead. Andrews plated the first two runs with a single up the middle before a double by Leach added two more runs for a 4-0 advantage. Outfielder Amanda Lorenz followed with a two-run home run to complete the outburst.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Leach’s 200 points in Saturday’s victory permitted her to retain second place on the league leaderboard as she trails pitcher Rachel Garcia by 102 points entering play on Sunday. Catcher Mia Davidson moved into third place after collecting 158 points on the strength of a 2-for-2 effort, including a home run, a single and a hit by pitch.

GAME NOTES

Team Leach and Team Warren combined to score 15 runs in Saturday’s nightcap, moving the league’s season total to 166 runs through 14 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of its ‘Round the Bases’ initiative.
Both teams initiated a captain’s challenge during the sixth inning … Team Warren challenged a hit by pitch call to Davidson, which was unsuccessful … In addition, Team Leach challenged an out call against designated player Danielle Gibson at home plate, which was also unsuccessful … Teams are now 1-for-13 in captain’s challenges (.077) this season.
Lorenz ran her hitting streak to five consecutive games after going 1-for-3 with her two-run home run … All three of her home runs this season have come during the streak.
Andrews has hit safely in four of her last five games after her 2-for-5 effort on Saturday … She has nine hits in the last five contests, including a three-hit performance against Team Filler on Monday.
Leach, who finished a home run shy of the cycle, had been 1-for-11 in the previous three games before the three-hit effort on Saturday … It was also her fourth multi-hit contest of the year.
Gibson has authored a nine-game hitting streak after posting a single in the top of the sixth inning.
Corner infielder Tori Vidales owns a 10-game hitting streak after her 1-for-4 performance on Saturday.
Davidson was hit by a pitch for the sixth time this season, extending her single-season AUX record … In addition, it was the 10th time she has been plunked by a pitch in her Athletes Unlimited career, setting a new combined (AUX and Championship Season) standard.
Pitcher Carrie Eberle threw a season-high 4.1 innings in relief for Team Warren, scattering four hits with one earned run and two strikeouts.