Southwest pitchers shut down Asia-Pacific

Grace Thaxton and Kara Anderson combined for a no-hitter, and Southwest (Calhoun, La.) notched two early runs to beat Asia Pacific (Makati City, P.I.) 2-0 in the opening game for both teams in the Senior League Softball World Series in Roxana on Sunday, Aug. 9.

Coastal Point • Jesse Pryor
Southwest’s Grace Thaxton combined with Kara Anderson to toss a no-hitter in the team’s debut game in the Senior League Softball World Series.

Whitney Eubanks reached first on a bunt in the first, advanced on a wild pitch by Asia-Pacific’s Jill Tanaka and ended up scoring on an error to give the Southwest team a 1-0 lead early. Southwest made it 2-0 in the second when Alex Privator led off with a single, stole second and found herself on third after a wild pitch. Privator was able to score the insurance run following a passed ball.

Thaxton hurled the first four innings for Southwest and struck out seven batters. Anderson pitched the last three innings and struck out six of the nine batters she faced. Asia-Pacific sent the minimum 21 batters to the plate for the game.

Tanaka pitched well in defeat. She pitched all seven innings for Asia-Pacific, allowing five hits and striking out nine batters. Tanaka issued one walk, to Thaxton, during the complete-game performance.

Chacha Bamba was the only baserunner for Asia-Pacific, when she picked up a fifth-inning walk. She was thrown out attempting to steal second.