We’ve started our FAB 50 Club Rankings with the top 18U teams honored this week.

Eventually, we’ll do the younger ages and one team that will make the 14U FAB 50 is the Illinois Chill team which won the PGF Labor Day Showcase last Monday, Labor Day.

Gerry Quinn’s team was explosive on offense, scoring double digits in several games, and had good pitching, notably from Carlee Jo Clark.

We asked Coach Quinn to spotlight his team and below you’ll get his thoughts on the championship win, an exciting 6-5 win in eight innings against the talented Jersey Intensity team from New Jersey.

Also, the leader of the Chill organization gives FloSoftball a “scouting report” on each player on the team:

Championship Game Recap

The visiting NJ Intensity pushed across solo runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings to take a three-run lead after 3 ½ innings.

We answered with one run of our own in the bottom of the 4th and then pushed across two more in the bottom of the 5th to tie it at 3-3. Neither team was able to score in the 6th inning and time expired setting up an ITB conclusion to the game.

Unfortunately, as the Intensity batted in the top half of the inning a storm swept through making playing conditions a challenge for both teams.

The Intensity managed two runs in its half of the inning leaving us with a deficit to overcome in our half of the ITB inning.

The weather quickly cleared as we came to the plate for our last at-bat.

We used a pair of groundouts to score our ITB runner still leaving us a run short of a tie with no base runners and down to our last out. However, four consecutive singles by Angela Zedak, Fiona Girardot, Molly Chambers and Carlee Jo Clark provided two runs and a walk-off victory.

All in all, it was an outstanding performance turned in by both teams. Several remarkable defensive plays were made by both teams and the game looked nothing like a 14U contest in early September of a new season.

The 2015-16 Illinois Chill 14U Team

--- SS/OF Peyton Bannon (2020, uncommitted)
“Peyton is first year 14U player and is one of several players who played primarily shortstop prior to joining our team. Presently she is developing her outfield skills while also playing some shortstop for us. Peyton’s base running and clutch hit keyed the two-run inning that won the semi-final game over the Ohio Outlaws in the PGF Labor Day Showcase.”

--- P/1B Molly Chambers (2020, uncommitted)
“Molly has excellent size and strength and figures to become a force on the mound and at the plate as her skills develop and her experience grows. Molly’s clutch two out single tied the championship game of the Labor Day Showcase and set the stage for the game winning hit that followed.”

--- P/1B/OF Carlee Jo Clark (2019, uncommitted)
“Carlee Jo recorded two wins on the mound over the Bandits Demarini team in the Labor Day Showcase including one in elimination play. She also recorded a save in elimination play and was the starting pitcher in the championship game. She finished the weekend with a big hit to drive in the championship game winner in walk-off fashion.”

--- 2B/F Jocelyn Currie (2020, uncommitted)
“Jocelyn came to us as an excellent second baseman and is now honing her skills in the outfield too. We look for her to continue her history of being an outstanding hitter as she acclimates to her first year at 14U.”

--- OF/1B Emmie Farnam (2019, uncommitted)
“Emmie is an excellent athlete with good speed and a lively bat. Her four RBI in the elimination quarterfinal game versus the Bandits Demarini helped key the victory. She also made several outstanding plays at first base that bolstered the solid team defense we played all weekend.”

--- SS/2B/OF Fiona Girardot (2019, uncommitted)
“Fiona was our primary shortstop throughout elimination play. Her defense during the tournament was outstanding and she was a consistent force out of the cleanup spot for us driving in seven runs during the four elimination games. She is receiving recruiting interest from several Big Ten schools.”

--- C/3B Cassie Lindmark (2019, uncommitted)
“Cassie is fundamentally one of the best defensive catchers I have seen at her age. Her blocking skills saved countless base advancements by our opponents during the tournament. Our pitching staff features four dropball/change-up pitchers and Cassie’s defense allows us to call any pitch on any count. Cassie also has excellent size at 5-foot-10 and swings a potent bat. She too is receiving Big Ten recruiting interest.”

--- P/B/OF Taylor Murray (2019, uncommitted)
“Taylor delivered several outstanding pitching performances in bracket play. She recorded three wins in bracket play including a 3-1 complete game gem win versus the Ohio Outlaws in the semi-final game. She also recorded the relief victory in the championship game vs. the NJ Intensity.”

--- 2B/OF Gabi Robles (2019, uncommitted)
“Our only left-handed hitter, Gabi only became one this past May at our suggestion. Batting left-handed has enabled her to take advantage of her very good speed and her ability to handle a bat. Through a combination of hitting and slapping lessons coupled with intense self-practice she has made an amazing transformation into a triple threat offensive player in just four months. Her defensive skills at second base and in the outfield along with her production out of the leadoff spot make her a sure fire future D1 player.”

--- SS/C/3B Delaney Rummell (2019, uncommitted)
“The team’s “Swiss Army Knife,” Delaney is able to play any position we ask her at a very high level. She is an outstanding shortstop, but she also volunteered to be our second catcher because we were unable to find one we were happy with through the roster formation process. Despite no experience at the position she has caught several games already this fall and has been outstanding. For good measure she is also playing center field and third base as we make sure we find a way to always have her on the field and in the batting order. At the plate she has shown the ability to drive the ball into the gaps but to also handle the bat and move runners along when need be. She too is a major conference prospect. ”

--- SS/2B/OF Faith Standerski (2020, uncommitted)
“Faith has an exceptional bat and a great knack for keeping at bats alive until she gets her hit. She recorded three hits in the final two games of the tournament when hits were hard to come by. She also has experience as a middle infielder and is adapting to the outfield too as she learns to share the spotlight with a roster full of shortstops.”

--- P/3B/OF Angela Zedak (2019, uncommitted)
“Angela is a rare power hitter. With a bat speed measured at over 90 mph, she put on a home run display at the Friday night camp front toss session that preceded the tournament. She also managed to hit three home runs during tournament play including one in the quarter final win. Angela plays third and outfield and also is a talented pitcher with a variety of pitches and an extremely competitive attitude. She is receiving Big Ten interest and is definitely a major conference prospect.”