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Racers Face Diamonds in Four-Game Set
Akron Travels to Tennessee, August 12-15
AKRON, Ohio (August 11, 2010) – The Akron Racers begin the first leg of a two-week road swing to close out the 2010 regular season this week, heading to Nashville, Tenn. to take on the Tennessee Diamonds, August 12-15.
The Racers dropped two out of three games against the first place Chicago Bandits last week but remain in second place, three and a half games behind Chicago and a half game ahead of the USSSA Pride. Akron enters the series 22-17 while the Diamonds are 9-30 on the year. The teams have squared off in 10 previous games with Akron laying claim to seven victories. Most recently, the Racers picked up four one-run wins—one of which lasted 10 innings, against Tennessee before falling 10-3 in the series finale at Firestone stadium.
As a team, Akron enters the series with a .246 clip having clubbed 261 hits and driven in 124 runs. Racers’ veteran Jackie Pasquerella (.317, 26 hits, 10 RBI) leads the team in batting average while Crystl Bustos (.315, 23 hits, nine RBI) leads the team with 14 walks. Akron’s top RBI producers are currently Samantha Ricketts (.226, 24 hits, 19 RBI), Mackenzie Vandergeest (.258, 16 hits, 18 RBI) and Lisa Modglin (.260, 33 hits, 17 RBI), who also paces the league and team with 15 stolen bases.
Utility player and pitcher Megan Gibson (.303, 30 hits, 17 RBI) leads the team with nine homers and 15 walks this season while Loryn Johnson (.261, 29 hits, 10 RBI) and Chelsie Mesa (.255, 25 hits, eight RBI) round out the top three Diamond batters. As a team, the Diamonds are batting .221 heading into the series with 223 hits and 92 RBI.
In the circle, a rematch featuring Lisa Norris (13-3) and strikeout leader and Olympian Monica Abbott (5-7) is more than likely this series.
Following the four game series against the Diamonds, Akron heads to Florida to take on the USSSA Pride (August 19-22) to close out the regular season before heading to Sulphur, La. August 24-29 for the NPF Championship Series. For more information on the event, visit www.profastpitch.com or to purchase tickets, go to www.profastpitch.ticketleap.com.
