Twisters show what they are made of in season finale

Their bats may be made of aluminum and their gloves crafted from leather, but the Twisters showed a unified determination of steel during the AFA Nationals in St. Paul, MN last week! The tourney got off to a shaky start with the Indiana ladies dropping two very close pool games (1-2 & 2-3) and having to shoulder a forfeit they did not deserve (game time change they were not told about--go figure!) but the Twister women would soon show that they may have been down, but they we by no means out!  

As double elimination bracket play began, the temps heated up and so did the play.  Game #1 was a solid 5-0 victory for the Twisters.  

If any fan left the stands of Game #2 with fingernails above the quick, they weren't watching the same game I was!  A serious defensive battle was occuring late that evening on the field between the Twisters and the Stingers--at the end of regulation it was deadlocked 0-0.  Unfortunately for the ladies in pink and black, they wound up on the short end of the ITB, losing 0-2 in nine innings.  As I said earlier, the Twisters may have been down, but not out!

During the next two days of play, the Twister fans were treated to a string of six victories.  If you ever wondered what true 'team effort' looks like, you should have seen these ladies play that weekend!  No one slacked, everyone hustled...the pitchers threw hard and sharp, the outfield was amazing, bats were hot and the infield stood like a wall against anything struck their way!  Their efforts took them all the way to the semi-finals where that darn Stingers team got the best of them (or maybe it was pure and simple exhaustion setting in) once again and won this barn burner 3-2.  

That steel determination got the Twisters just what they came for -- a medal and the satisfaction of knowing they overcame several obstacles to bond as a team--the Indiana Twisters--and show the rest of the country what they are made of!  

 

Along the way we saw some great play:

Kate Shipley was strong, as usual, behind the plate.  
Megan Gray gets her girl at third.

Shelby Barnett knocks away another one!

Megan Gray shows off her sliding skills avoiding the tag at third (click on image to enlarge series)

Kelsey Mullen can certainly field her position in the circle

Witnessed a bit of silliness by both the players

and the fans (thankfully Brad left all his undergarments hidden!)

Congratulations, Twisters, on placing 3rd at the AFA Nationals 2008!

There is a bittersweet ending to this story.  For five of our beloved players, the AFA Nationals was their last stop with the Twisters.  We know that each of these ladies are moving on to awesome collegiate careers, whether they are on or off the softball field.  Where are they off to?

Maggie Tull -- Indiana University

Lisa Cappa -- Ball State University

Holly Paris -- DePauw University

Kate Shipley -- DePauw University 

Sarah Cearing -- Purdue University
Farewell, Twister women!  While you have been with us you have been greatly loved, respected, downright admired...now you will be deeply missed!