"Be skilled in attack." Warner Bros used these words for the movie "On Any Given Sunday." It has always been said that any team can be defeated. I am not sure the So Cal Ringers (0-4) would have agreed with these words as they prepared to face two undefeated teams ( California Crushers and Heatwave) in the Amateur Softball Association's fall tournament. On the mound for the Ringers was Lizzie Miller, with Cassie Colón behind the plate. For Colón, game one against the Crushers meant she would face her old teammates from last year's tournament.

The Ringers opened up the 1st inning with ominous tones as the first two batters went down in order. Emily Heinemann then singled, followed by a double from Amanda Ulf, which scored Heinemann. Ulf also ended up crossing the plate, placing the Ringers ahead 2-0. The Crushers had Jenna Martin on the mound and Katie Budrick catching, a sign they were playing to win. When the inning ended, however, five Crushers were unable to score and Miller recorded two strikeouts. The 2nd inning saw the Ringers score one more run on four batters. The Crushers had four batters of their own but again walked away scoreless. Both teams were unable to score in the 3rd inning, as Miller notched her third strikeout of the game. In the 4th inning, the Ringers offense came to life with seven batters pushing across three runs on two singles, a double, and a fielder's choice. In the bottom of the inning Miller recorded her sixth strikeout of the game shutting down the Crushers offense. The 5th inning provided the Ringers seventh and final run of the game as they exploited two defensive errors. Miller recorded strikeout number seven and added two more (nine total in the game) in the 6 th, as the Ringers shocked the undefeated Crushers, 7-0.

Game two provided another offensive display for the Ringers as they smothered the Heatwave, 9-4. In the game, the Ringers pitching trio of Vanessa Zuk,Lydia Kay, and Lizzie Miller recorded eight strikeouts against Heatwave. Cassie Colón (single and HR), Kylie Mulligan (two singles), Devon Zerebko (single and double), Zuk (two singles), and Amanda Ulf (triple) led the Ringers' offense. After five innings of regulation play, both teams were tied 4-4. In the first inning under international tie breaking rules the teams remained tied. The 7th inning started off with Ulf on second base; Zerebko then singled, scoring Ulf. The second batter of the inning, Abby Ulf, reached base on an error. Colón then hit a line drive that whistled past the third baseman's head and kept rolling into the outfield for a homerun. One out later, Zuk singled then scored after singles by Brittni Dow and Mulligan. Heatwave sent five batters to the plate but the Ringers defense held them scoreless. The average fan may not have been impressed with the Ringers winless record (now 2-4) but if you ask the Crushers and Heatwave, they are. I wish the Ringers all the best in their single game next Saturday. I will be at the Rose Bowl as UCLA takes on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.