On a sad note, however, Emily will be out for a while. Emily dislocated her shoulder last summer at District, and did not get to make the trip to AFA Nationals with us.  In the Championship game of the Katy Christmas Classic, Emily injured her shoulder again. This time surgery will be required to repair it.  Hopefully, with proper physical therapy, Emily will be back to play with us again soon.  Take care of yourself, Emily!  We'll be thinking about you!

Pool Game 2 - vs College Station Tigers Teal.  Aces win 10-0.
Amber led off with a single for the Aces.  After one out, Kesha singled to bring home Amber.  Rhiannon reached on a fielding error, and Megan walked to load the bases.  Kendall was safe with an RBI on a suicide squeeze.  Rhiannon scored on a wild pitch.  Kelsea doubled to bring home two runs.  Sarah singled, and Kelsea scored on a passed ball.  After Amber had already taken a couple of pitches in her 2nd at bat in the inning, the umpires informed us that we had to take an out for our missing player in the lineup!  Sarah handled the side in the bottom of the 1st, with a bunt back to the pitcher, and two strikeouts.    Lindsey bunted safely to lead off the 2nd. Kesha followed with a single up the middle.  Rhiannon singled to bring home a run.  Two fielder's choices to third took the lead runner each time.  Megan scored on a wild pitch, and one was left stranded. Sarah walked one in the 2nd.  On a groundout thrown to 1st, the runner on base tried to get extra bases and was tagged out.  Sarah struck out the last batter.  Sarah led off with a bunt single in the 3rd. After one out for the missing player, Amber bunted safely and Sarah scored on a throwing error.  Another error on the play allowed Amber to score. Lindsey singled, but was left stranded.  Sarah struck out one and walked two, but time ran out. 

Bracket 1 - vs Spring Klein Sudden Impact.  Aces lose 1-2.
The Aces had a bye the first round of bracket, and faced the Sudden Impact, who had sent Alvin No Fear to the loser's bracket earlier on Saturday. Sarah pitched for the Aces.  After a groundout back to the pitcher, Kendall made a great catch of a line drive to 1st.  On two outs, Sudden Impact hit a triple.  A throwing error to 1st allowed the runner to score, but a groundout left one stranded.  Lindsey drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the first.  Kesha reached on an error. Rhiannon walked, and Megan walked for an RBI.  A fielder's choice that took the runner at the plate, and a strikeout left three stranded.  Sudden Impact led off with a hit in the 2nd, but after a sac bunt, Sarah struck out the next batter.  A grounder back to the pitcher left the runner stranded.  The Aces were 3-up-3-down in the bottom of the 2nd.  After one out in the 3rd, a runner reached on a fielding error.  After a walk, Rhiannon came in to pitch.  A fielder's choice to 2nd got the runner going to 2nd, leaving runners on the corners.  However, a single brought home a run.  Rhiannon struck out the last batter, leaving two stranded.  Kesha singled on one out in the bottom of the 3rd.  Rhiannon followed with another single.  After a fly out, Kendall walked to load the bases.  However, a strikeout left three stranded, and the Aces short by one run. 

Bracket 2 - vs Houston Power.  Aces win 3-0.
The Aces had planned to stay in the winner's bracket on Saturday, so that Megan and Sarah could go to their high school softball banquet and not miss any games.  However, with the loss in the first bracket game, the Aces had to play sooner than they planned.  With only 8 players available to start, Kristen from the 12U Katy Express agreed to help out so the Aces wouldn't have to forfeit.  Ashley showed up from basketball just after the game started.  The Aces were home team, with Rhiannon pitching.  Emily caught a pop foul for the first out, and Rhiannon struck out the next one.  After the next batter walked and advanced to 2nd on a passed ball, Emily caught the runner trying to steal 3rd for the final out.  Amber led off with a walk after fouling off a bunch of pitches.  Lindsey advanced Amber with a sac bunt.  Kesha singled to advance Amber.  Rhiannon singled to bring home two runs, and advanced to 3rd on an error.  Kendall singled to score Rhiannon, and Kendall was left stranded on a strikeout and a groundout.  After a groundout to Kelsea at 3rd, the next batter walked.  A grounder back to the pitcher advanced the runner to 2nd.  The next batter hit a single to right, but Ashley threw home to catch the runner trying to score. Emily tagged the runner at the plate for the 3rd out.  After one out, Kristen hit a single over the pitcher's head.  Amber followed with a single.  Lindsey walked to load the bases.  On a pop-up to 2nd, Kristen got caught in a run down and was called out at 3rd.  Still a great effort by a 1st-year 12U player!  Power led off with a single in the 3rd.  The runner advanced to 2nd and 3rd as Rhiannon struck out the next two batters.  However, a fly out to Ashley in right left the runner stranded.  Rhiannon led off with a single in the bottom of the 3rd.  Kendall bunted safely for another single. Kelsea singled to load the bases.  However, two strikeouts and a groundout left three stranded.  Ashley caught a line drive to right for the first out of the 4th.  The next batter reached on a dropped 3rd strike.  The next batter singled.  Rhiannon struck out the next batter, and caught a line drive for the 3rd out to seal the shut out. 

Bracket 3 - vs Galveston Her-icanes.  Aces win 7-2.
It was really cold and windy by the time the Aces played their 3rd bracket game.  They had to wait quite a while for the Galveston Hericanes to travel from the Cullen fields, where their game had been moved because of the lack of lights on the Katy fields where the game was scheduled. Rhiannon struck out the first batter.  The next batter hit a line drive back to Rhiannon, which she deflected just out of Lindsey's reach.  The next up hit a hard shot to Amber at 2nd, which took a bad hop and hit Amber, putting two on base.  A groundout to Ashley in right got another out, but allowed a run to score.  The next batter hit another line drive at Rhiannon, this time catching her in the thigh.  What a bruise!  And the runner from 3rd scored.  Rhiannon struck out the next batter.  The Aces were fired up by then.  Amber reached on an error, and Lindsey singled.  Kesha doubled to bring both home and tie the game. Rhiannon singled to bring home Kesha.  Kendall also singled.  With two on, Kelsea reached on an error to load the bases.  After a strikeout, Stephanie hit a double to clear the bases, giving the Aces 3 more runs.  After another out, Amber singled to score yet another run.  Lindsey singled for the 2nd time in the inning, but a fly ball to center left two stranded.  The Hericanes were 3-up-3-down in the 2nd with a groundout to Amber, a pop up to Amber, and a ground out to Kendall at 1st.  The Hericanes went to another pitcher, and the Aces were also 3-up-3-down.  The Hericanes had one batter reach on an error in the 3rd.  The runner advanced to 2nd on a groundout.  On a grounder to Lindsey at short, she held the runner at 2nd, and threw to 1st for the out.  The runner tried to go to 3rd after the throw, but Kendall quickly threw back to Emily who tagged out the runner at 3rd.  The Aces were again 3-up-3-down in the bottom of the 3rd.  The Hericanes had two fly outs to Ashley in right, and then Rhiannon struck one out for the 3rd out.  After one out in the bottom of the 4th, Lindsey walked. Kesha singled.  A groundout advanced the runners to 2nd & 3rd, but time expired. 

Bracket 4 - vs San Antonio Cruisers.  Aces win 3-0.
The Aces had to return early Sunday morning to frost on the ground, but at least this time with a full team.  Lana Jo was still out, but Victoria from the Texas Smash came to help out.  In the first game, the Aces faced the Cruisers, who had lost to the Sudden Impact late the night before.  On two outs in the first, Kesha singled up the middle. Rhiannon followed with a single, and Kendall singled to load the bases.  However, all three were left stranded.  The Cruisers were 3-up-3-down with a grounder to Lindsey at short, a grounder to Ashley in right, and a strikeout by Rhiannon.  The Aces were 3-up-3-down in the 2nd.  The Cruisers first batter reached on an error in the bottom of the 2nd, but was quickly caught stealing on the throw by Kelsea to Lindsey.  The next batter also reached on an error, but was left stranded with a strikeout and a pop up to short.  Both sides were 3-up-3-down in the 3rd.  Rhiannon led off with a triple in the 4th.  Sarah came in to run for her, but was left stranded.  After a strikeout and a ground out to Ashley in right, Rhiannon walked one, but the runner was left stranded with another strikeout.  In the top of the 5th, Amber singled on two outs.  Lindsey followed with a walk.  Kesha singled to right, and Amber tried to round 3rd and score.  However, she was thrown out at the plate.  But wait!  The field umpire signaled obstruction by the 3rd baseman, who blocked Amber's path to the plate and made her go around.  Amber was safe at home!  Rhiannon followed with a double to bring home two more runs.  The Cruisers were 3-up-3-down in the bottom of the 5th, giving the Aces the victory.  It would be the start of a very long day! 

Bracket 5 - vs Texas Turn 2.  Aces win 8-0.
After a game break, the Aces started their next game.  Sarah started for the Aces.  Turn 2 had two groundouts and a strikeout in the 1st. Amber led off with a walk, and advanced on wild pitch and a sac bunt. Kesha grounded out to score Amber.  On two outs, Rhiannon reached on an error.  Kendall also reached on an error as Rhiannon scored. Sarah also reached on an error, and Kendall scored.  One batter was left stranded.  After two groundouts in the 2nd, Turn 2 got two hits, but both runners were left stranded on a fly out to Kesha in left field. Megan and Emily walked in the 2nd.  Amber singled to bring home both, but Amber was tagged out trying to go for extra bases.  After another out, Kesha singled, but was left stranded.  Victoria came in to pitch for the Aces, and struck out the first two batters she faced.  The next batter hit a fly ball to Stephanie in center for the 3rd out.  Ashley reached on an error in the bottom of the 3rd.  Sarah bunted safely to advance Ashley.  Victoria reached on an error, and Ashley scored.  Stephanie bunted safely for another RBI.  Victoria tried to score on a wild pitch, but was tagged out at the plate.  Emily grounded out for another RBI.  The game ended with the run rule after the eighth run scored. 

Bracket 6 - vs Humble Cobras.  Aces win 6-1.
The Aces were again home team.  This time Victoria pitched.  She handled the first inning alone, with a line drive back to the pitcher and two strikeouts.  Amber led off with a single, and Lindsey was awarded base when she was hit by a pitch.  Kesha walked to load the bases.  Amber scored on a wild pitch, and the other runners advanced. Rhiannon bunted for an RBI, but Kesha got caught going for third after the Cobras missed the out at the plate.  Kendall walked.  After another out, Victoria singled to bring home two more runs.  One was left stranded.  After a groundout, one runner reached on an error.  The next runner singled.  The next runner hit a fielder's choice which held the runner at 3rd.  After a pop foul for the 2nd out, the lead runner scored on a wild pitch, and the batter walked.  On a sharp grounder near 2nd base, Lindsey ran for the force at 2nd for the 3rd out.  The Aces were 3-up-3-down in the bottom of the 2nd, but still had a 4-1 lead.  The first batter walked in the 3rd.  After a strikeout, the next batter hit into a fielder's choice, but an error missed the out at 2nd.  The next batter hit into a fielder's choice, and this time the Aces got the lead runner at 3rd.  A groundout left two stranded.  After one out, Rhiannon reached on an error.  Kendall followed with a double and Rhiannon advanced to 3rd.  After another out, Victoria singled to bring home two runs.  A fielder's choice left one stranded.  The Cobras were 3-up-3-down to end the game, with grounders to Sarah at second, Victoria at pitcher, and Megan at third. 

Bracket 7 - vs Katy Cruisers.  Aces win 7-1.
Sarah pitched for the Aces.  The lead off batter hit a single, but was left stranded after a strikeout, a fly out to Kesah in left, and a groundout to Lindsey at short.  Amber led off with a single. Lindsey followed with another single.  After a strikeout, a groundout advanced the runners.  On two outs, Kendall hit a double to bring home two runs.  Kendall was left stranded.  After a strikeout and a line drive to Kendall at 3rd, the Cruisers hit a double.  The next batter reached on an overthrown ball to first, but Kelsea in right backed up the play and threw the runner out at the plate for the 3rd out! Emily hit a single on two outs in the 2nd, but was left stranded.  The Cruisers hit a single on one out in the 3rd, but the runner was also left stranded.  Lindsey led off the bottom of the 3rd with a walk. Kesha reached on an error.  Rhiannon singled to bring home two runs, and Kendall walked.  Sarah doubled to bring home two more runs. Stephanie advanced Sarah with a sac bunt.  Kelsea bunted in a suicide squeeze, but Sarah was out at the plate.  Kelsea was caught stealing to end the inning.  In the 4th, the Cruisers had one out when a batter reached on an error.  Another batter reached on another error, and a single put up the first run for the Cruisers.  Two were left stranded. Megan led off the bottom of the 4th with a single.  Amber followed with another single.  Victoria walked to load the bases, and Kesha singled to bring home another run.  Time expired with bases loaded and no outs. 

Bracket 8 - vs Sugar Land Heat.  Aces win 3-2.
The Aces immediately went to the next game, after the Heat lost to Sudden Impact.  On two outs in the first, Kesha singled.  Rhiannon followed with a double to score Kesha.  Rhiannon was left stranded.  The Heat was 3-up-3-down with a strikeout and two groundouts to third. Megan walked in the 2nd, and Sarah hit into a fielder's choice which got Megan at two.  Sarah was left stranded.  The first batter reached on an error, but was out at 2nd on a fielder's choice.  After the runner advanced on a groundout, a single scored a run to tie the game 1-1.  A groundout left one stranded.  Amber led off the 2nd with a double. Lindsey followed with a walk.  After one out, Rhiannon doubled to bring home two runs.  Rhiannon was left stranded.  Victoria came in for the Aces.  After a groundout to Kendall at 1st, and one to Kelsea at 3rd, the next batter beat the throw to first for a hit.  The next batter followed with a double to score a run, and put the Heat within one of the Aces.  A groundout left one stranded.  The Aces were 3-up-3-down in the 4th.  The Heat was home team, and time was running out.  The first batter led off with a double.  Rhiannon came back in for the Aces.  The next batter grounded out to Amber at 2nd.  Amber threw to Kendall at 1st for the out, and Kendall threw home and got the lead runner for a double play that kept the score from being tied!  Another batter walked, but a fly out to Sarah in center left the runner stranded, and put the Aces in the championship game.

Bracket 9 - vs Spring Klein Sudden Impact.  Aces win 3-2.
The final game was the Aces 6th game of the day, and 9th bracket game overall.  Rhiannon started for the Aces.  Sudden Impact led off with a double.  However, Emily made a great catch on a fly ball to right field, although the runner advanced to 3rd.  Rhiannon struck out the next two to leave the runner stranded.  Lindsey reached in the bottom of the 1st when she was hit by a pitch, but she was left stranded.  Sudden Impact hit a single to start the 2nd.  After a strikeout by Rhiannon, another single put two on base.  The runners advanced to 2nd & 3rd.  On a squeeze play, Rhiannon went to 1st on the bunt instead of getting the runner at the plate.  However, a bad throw allowed both runners to score and the batter to get to 3rd.  The long day was taking it's toll.  However, a line drive and a fly ball to Emily in right left the runner stranded at 3rd.  Kendall walked in the bottom of the 2nd, but was left stranded.  One batter reached on an error in the top of the 3rd, but the outfielders took care of things with a catch by Emily in right and two by Stephanie in center.  In the bottom of the 3rd, Emily led off for the Aces.  She hit a foul ball to right, but dislocated her shoulder in the process.  Emily was out of the game. Victoria came in to finish Emily's at bat, and ended up walking.  Victoria advanced to second on a passed ball and to 3rd on a groundout.  However, a bad throw from 1st allowed Victoria to score.  The Aces were only down by 1 run.  Lindsey rallied with a single to left field.  Kesha followed with another single.  Rhiannon hit a fly ball to center, but the runners couldn't advance.  Sudden Impact pulled their 2nd pitcher off 1st base to warm up.  Kendall hit a grounder up the middle, which was fielded by the pitcher.  On a bad throw to 1st, two runs scored to give the Aces the lead.  Time was about to expire, and all the Aces had to do was stall.  However, Kendall got caught too far off 2nd base for the 3rd out, and a new inning started.  The first batter grounded out to Lindsey.  The next batter hit a fly ball to center and Stephanie got the out.  One more groundout to Lindsey, and the Aces won the game!  Way to go Aces!