NCAA.com brackets / Live game feed today at 12:00 noon

A former softball player for the Italy Lady Gladiators from 2003 to 2006 and currently an Angelo State University Lady Rambelle’s senior, #12 Sarah DeMoss is leading the charge for the 19th ranked Lady Rambelles during their 2010 NCAA, Division II, Softball National Chamionship quest, with all games being played in St. Joseph, Missouri at Heritage Park.

In the South Central Super Regional held at the Midwestern State campus in Wichita Falls, Texas, on Friday, May 21, Angelo State (50-14) moved past Midwestern State 7-5 to qualify for the National Championship tournament as one of eight teams still standing. An accomplishment Angelo State has reached in four of the last seven seasons.

In game one of the double-elimination National Championship tournament, the Lady Rambelles, head coached by Travis Scott, defeated Metropolitan State 10-3.

Now on the national stage, DeMoss is receiving rave reviews from game announcers who refer to DeMoss as a threat to the other teams and as a force to reckon with.

The lead-off hitter for the Lady Rambelles, DeMoss came out swinging with a single to start game one against Metropolitan State University of Denver. Known for her amazing speed and her ability to steal bases, DeMoss eventually scored the first point of the game and has continued to make plays throughout the tournament.

In fact, of the eight teams competing in the the National Championship tournament, DeMoss has scored more runs than any other player, thus far, with a total of four.

With the win over Metropolitan State, DeMoss and the Lady Rambelles advanced to game two and went ten innings against the 3rd ranked Hawaii Pacific Sea Warriors before losing 1-0, and moving into the loser’s bracket.

On Friday, facing tournament elimination in game three, the Lady Rambelles went eight innings to get the win over the Bloomsburg Pennsylvania Huskies (50-7) by a score of 5-4 to end Bloomsburg’s season.

The Rambelles stranded two early when Demoss was gunned down at the plate by Bloomsburg’s center fielder Raychelle Kuhns to keep the game tied 0-0 in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

The Huskies’ Sam Pientack responded by leading off the fourth with a long home run into left field. Bloomsburg made it 2-0 in the fifth when Nikki Shiko, who singled to get on base, was knocked in courtesy of a two-out shot by catcher Lacy Mauro.

Angelo State grabbed the lead in the bottom of the 5th with a critical two-out rally by the Lady Rambelles. DeMoss and Chelsey Walters each singled and scored on a Kaycee Taylor hit (aided by a Bloomsburg throwing error), game tied 2-2. The Rambelles later increased their lead 4-2 after an Amanda Wilhelm’s single and a Brittany Astle’s bases-loaded walk. A pick-off at third base, by the Huskies, left the bases loaded for Angelo State but not before the damage was done.

A home run, a double and a single rallied the Huskies to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the 6th inning. However, Angelo State countered with a home run of their own thanks to a solo blast by Easley in the eighth inning to give the Lady Rambelles a dramatic 5-4 victory.

Italy’s Demoss finished with 4 at bats, 2-hits and scored 1-run in game 3 of the national semi-finals to help San Angelo post a 2-1 record in the tournament.

Still alive, DeMoss and the Lady Rambelles will play today, May 30 at 12:00 noon, 1:00 p.m. eastern standard time. Angelo State will enter game four needing two wins over Valdosta State University out of Georgia (49-8) if they hope to advance into the National Championship game. A win would force a second game with Voldosta on Sunday, May 31 at 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. eastern standard time.

From there, Angelo State would play in the National Championship game on Monday, May 31 which will be televised by CBS College Sports.

Sarah Demoss stats entering South Central Super Regional / Team ranking:

• Runs: 57 (Team leader)
• Hits: 75 (2nd on team behind Alix Dean with 78)
• Triples: 3 (Team leader)
• Stolen Bases: 45 (Team leader)
  
  

NCAA.com brackets / Live game feed today at 12:00 noon

Update: Sunday, May 30 at 3:00 p.m.:
The Voldosta State University Lady Blazers get a walk off home run by Morgan Johnson in the bottom of the seventh inning to end Sarah DeMoss’s and the Angelo State Lady Rambelle’s 2010 season by a score of 3-2.

DeMoss fielded two grounders and caught two fly balls in right field including a home run robbing, top of the fence grab, in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

DeMoss and ASU teammate Nicole Smith helped set the table for a game tying rally in the the top of the 6th inning with a pair of singles. A third hit that made it to the left field fence, by Kaycee Taylor, scored Smith but DeMoss was thrown out at the plate for the second time of the tournament, 2-1 VSU continued to lead.

Taylor was knocked in to follow up allowing ASU to tie the game 2-2. Later in the top of the 7th, ASU went three up, three down on consecutive ground outs, leaving the score tied 2-2. It was during VSU’s first at bat in the bottom of the 7th inning that Johnson knocked in the game winning home run over the left field fence, the Lady Blazers win 3-2.

Voldosta will play the winner of the Hawaii Pacific vs. Metropolitan State game for the National Championship title on Monday, May 31.

At bat: 3 – strikeout, ground out, single
Right field: Fielded two grounders and caught two fly balls including a home run robber at the top of the fence.

Congratulations to, Italy’s own, Sarah Demoss on an amazing collegiate career and to the Angelo State Lady Rambelles (50-15) on an outstanding season.

Special thanks to Anne Sutherland of Italy (Sarah’s mother), ASU Sports Information, angelosports.com and ncaa.com.

Comment from Grace Stevens, June 1, 2010, 11:20am

As a former Lady Gladiator and the proud sister of Sarah, I am overwhelmed by her continued success in every aspect of her college career. Her performance at playoffs confirm the reports of her dynamic ability to be a triple threat in the game- batting, defense and stealing bases. She clearly made a reputation for herself as the backbone of the team, and she will be missed as she leaves to continue her career.

Sarah’s determination for excellence should make all of Italy’s coaches and teachers proud of the values she learned beginning her journey to her current position. Pride and class are values that should be a staple in any environment of learning and were pushed during our time at IHS. She is certainly a top-rate example of those qualities.

Sarah is continuing her commitment to excellence as she plans her future in graduate school (at my alma-mater- the University of North Texas!). This is not the last news of success you’ll hear from Sarah Elizabeth DeMoss.

Sincerely,
Grace Stevens