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2007 Oakland Vipers
12 and Under Tournament Team

Coaching staff:
Rocky Laber
Maria Morris
Lauren White

Kera Anderson Bria Bryant Toni Calaebrese-Thomas Alexis Carney Bayana Davis Erin Erickson Claire Gotch Kelsey Higbie Georgia Hill Jeneba Kilgore Natalie Laber Callie Prince Daija Stafford Haley Wiley

Benicia Outlaws Tournament
Benicia, CA

August 11-12

Saturday August 11

Oakland Vipers 4, Lamorinda Menace 4
Despite Erin Erickson's leadoff single, Oakland was unable to score in their first at-bat. With the game scoreless, Callie Prince led off the top of the 2nd with a double, and Jeneba Kilgore reached after being hit by an inside pitch. Prince stole third and Natalie Laber dropped a well placed bunt that brought the first run home. Alexis Carney later belted a 2 out, 2 run double and the Vipers had a solid 3 run lead. As Laber threw 3 innings of shut out ball, Oakland's Bria Bryant manufactured a run by reaching on an error, stealing 2nd and 3rd, and scoring on a ground out. But 4 runs weren't enough to put away the Menace, who capitalized on an error, a hit and a walk in the 4th inning to score a pair, and a walk and an error in the 5th to tie the game.

Auburn Storm 5, Oakland Vipers 4
Oakland again got the scoring started in the second game of the day as Erin Erickson singled to lead off the top of the first. Bria Bryant drove her home with a sharp single up the middle. Auburn scored 2 in the 2nd on an error and a triple, and 3 in the 3rd on 2 hits and 2 walks. But the Vipers still had some fight left in them as Erickson singled in the 4th, stole 2 bases and scored on a ground out. In the 5th, Claire Gotch reached base on a dropped 3rd strike, stole 2nd and scored on Bryant's second hit of the game. Bryant was later driven home by a Haley Wiley ground out, but the rally came up one run short.

Oakland Vipers 7, Benicia Outlaws 0
With the sun no longer beating down on the playing field, and the afternoon winds picking up a notch or two, the Vipers took the field as the home team against tournament host Benicia. After a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Vipers dug into the batters box ready to do some damage. Erin Erickson and Claire Gotch walked, and with 2 out, Haley Wiley drove a single to center to score a run. Kera Anderson followed with a single of her own driving in a pair, and Oakland never looked back. As Natalie Laber was striking out 7 of the next 9 batters she faced, the Vipers kept adding runs until their opponent's spirit was broken. Toni Calabresse-Thomas hustled to reach base in the 2nd and scored 2 batters later as Erickson and Alexis Carney laced a pair of singles. Both would score, staking Oakland to a 6-0 advantage. The Vipers added another as Kera Anderson stole home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 3rd.

Sunday, August 12

Oakland Vipers 8, Santa Rosa Victory 6
By virtue of the previous evening's shut out, the Vipers earned a slightly higher seed and were entitle to play Sunday's second game at 10:00 am, as opposed to the dreaded 8:00 am start. The rest served the girls well. Alexis Carney singled and stole 2nd with one out in the top of the first. Claire Gotch executed a perfect sacrifice to advance Carney to 3rd and Bria Bryant's speed down the base path to first scored Carney as Bryant reached base. Haley Wiley then slammed a resounding triple to score Bryant easily. Oakland's defense played soundly in the first two innings, holding at bay a potent Victory lineup. Leading off the 3rd, Oakland turned an Erickson walk, a Bryant double, and a Wiley single into another pair of runs. Santa Rosa answered with 2 runs in their half of the 3rd inning while the Vipers countered with one in the top of the 4th as Jeneba Kilgore reached on an error and was driven home by Erin Erickson. Santa Rosa took the lead in the bottom of the 4th, scoring 4 runs on 3 hits. Despite trailing 6-5, Oakland had answers, both on offense and defense. Bryant, Wiley, and Callie Prince all singled, and combined with a walk and an error, the Vipers pushed had across 3 more runs. As the Vipers looked to close it out in the bottom of the 5th, with 2 out, Santa Rosa put runners on base with a single and an error. On a sharply hit ball past shortstop, the Victory looked to test the arm of left fielder Kera Anderson. Not on this day. Anderson threw a strike on the fly to catcher Erickson, tagging the runner out by 15 feet and ending the game.

Oakland Vipers 6, Lamorinda Menace 3
With revenge on their minds, the Vipers eagerly awaited a rematch with their neighbors from over the hills. 3 weeks earlier, Lamorinda had dominated play in the Wess Jones San Jose tournament, beating the Vipers by a single run in the championship game. And although the Menace are a formidable team, the strain of back-to-back games proved too much on this sunny day, while Oakland was rested and ready to explode. Explode they did, sending 9 batters to the plate in the top of the first and coming away with 5 runs. The Menace countered with 2 in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of an error and a pair of hits, the second one a 2-run triple to Lamorinda's slugging catcher. It was now time for the pitchers to square off as Oakland's Natalie Laber dueled with Lamorinda's Natalie, exchanging zeroes until the 5th. Leading off the top half, Bria Bryant sent a screaming triple into the right center gap and scored on Haley Wiley's ground out. Lamorinda managed a 1-out single, but Laber's ability to change speeds kept the Menace's catcher off balance, ending the game on a ground out to short. The Vipers had once again earned a berth in the championship game.

Redding Rapids 8, Oakland Vipers 1
Sometimes one big inning is enough to put an opponent away. Through 2 innings with the score tied at 1 apiece, the Vipers had confidence that they could compete with a potent lineup like that of the Rapids. But the team that traveled 4 hours to the Bay Area were ready to show that they were in the championship game for a very good reason. Their hitting was too aggressive and too strong, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring 7 runs in the 3rd. The momentum continued for Redding on defense, as they executed flawlessly on every ball hit, turning them into outs all but once.

Wess Jones Memorial
San Jose, CA

July 14-15

Saturday July 14

Oakland Vipers 4, Almaden Lightning 2
With no shortage of incentive, the Vipers squared off against a tenacious Almaden in their Saturday opener in San Jose. Looking to avenge an elimination game loss 2 weeks prior in Carmel, the Vipers came out firing. Alexis Carney got things started with a 1-out single, followed by a 2-out single from the bat of Kelsey Higbie. Enter Kera Anderson, who drove the second pitch she saw deep to left center for all the runs Oakland would need. Almaden was determined to wage battle this day, and struck with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 2nd, however, Oakland's strong pitching and brilliant defense, anchored by catcher Erin Erickson and shortstop Carney, was up to the task, and the Lightning would score no more. Almaden's defense was just as stingy, until Georgia Hill added an important insurance run in the top of the 4th, driving home Toni Calabresse-Thomas with a sharp double.

Campbell Crush 5, Oakland Vipers 3
Oakland got things going early in a hot afternoon matchup with Campbell, holding the Crush scoreless in the top of the 1st and busting out with 3 runs in the home half. Erin Erickson singled to lead off, promptly stole second and score on Claire Gotch's sharp single. Kelsey Higbie followed with a double to score Gotch, and Jeneba Kilgore laced a line drive single to score Higbie, for an early 3-0 lead. The Crush took advantage of a pair of errors and strung together a pair of hits to close the gap while limiting Oakland to 3 hits the rest of the way as the afternoon sun took it's toll on the Vipers' energy.

Oakland Vipers 13, Cupertino Inferno 0
With a bitter taste left in their mouths from the previous game's shortcomings, the Vipers struck early and often with a vengeance, sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning, with aggressive hitting and base running. Pitchers Alexis Carney and Natalie Laber would go on to hold the Inferno scoreless to wrap up Saturday play and secure the top seed.

Sunday, July 15

Oakland Vipers 9, Los Gatos-Saratoga Magic 4
Well-rested and confident, the Oakland girls looked as though they never missed a beat from the pace they set Saturday afternoon. Despite giving up a lead off single, the battery of Natalie Laber and catcher Erin Erickson went to work shutting down any semblance of a rally by the Magic. Erickson quickly erased the base runner by firing a bullet to shortstop Alexis Carney on a stolen base attempt, while Laber struck out two to retire the side. Here come the Vipers in the home half: after singling, Erin Erickson was lifted for courtesy runner Kera Anderson, who stole second and scored on Claire Gotch's double. Haley Wiley delivered a line drive base hit to score Gotch and the Vipers had yet again jumped ahead early. Although this time the early lead would hold up, Oakland took no chances in letting their guard down. Laber lifted a ball into short left for a single, Callie Prince's base hit moved Laber to third and Jeneba Kilgore drove Natalie home with a single of her own. Erickson's second hit of the game plated Kilgore and the Vipers found themselves ahead with a solid four run lead. However, the Magic proved to be a scrappy bunch of competitors and rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the 4th, but Oakland seemed to have an answer for any threat. Callie Prince's drive to deep left-center had the defenders in pursuit of the ball and the relay throw. As Prince rounded second base, she seemed determined to use her speed to challenge the Magic, and with a full head of steam rounded third and scored easily. Erickson drove home Kilgore and Gotch's fielder's choice brought home Erickson. With a comfortable lead intact, Oakland turned to Haley Wiley to shut it down dealing 2 strike outs in the top of the 6th to seal the win.

Oakland Vipers 6, Almaden Lightning 2
We've come to see that when the Vipers and Lightning hook up, a high caliber of play can be expected. Having met twice in the last 2 weeks, a sense of familiarity was shared by both dugouts. Playing their typical brand of small ball, the Lightning turned a pair of errors into a run in the top of the first. They scored again in the 3rd on an error and a base hit while setting down the Oakland bats in order until the bottom of the 4th. Having a better idea the second time around made the difference as Erin Erickson and Claire Gotch singled, setting the stage for shortstop Alexis Carney. As if she'd saved it for just the right occasion, her first hit of the day was one that would take a major bite out of what looked to be Almaden's gathering momentum. The first pitch she saw was a fastball that connected squarely with the sweet spot of the bat, and Carney sent a missile deep into left center for a go-ahead home run. Pitcher Natalie Laber, effectively changing speeds and pouding the lower part of the strike zone, tamed the Lightning bats the rest of the way. Knowing their opponent's propensity for manufacturing runs, the Vipers felt the urgency to put up insurance runs, and did so with 3 in the 6th as Erickson, Gotch and Carney strung together singles to load the bases for Georgia Hill. Hill responded with a ringing triple, clearing the bases and putting the win on ice, and sending the Vipers into the championship game.

Lamorinda Menace 8, Oakland Vipers 7
The pattern of jumping out to a lead that had developed earlier in the weekend continued in the top of the 1st in the title game. Singles by Erin Erickson, Kelsey Higbie, Alexis Carney, and Natalie Laber provided Oakland with a 3 run lead. The Menace answered back with a run on 2 hits, the the teams would go on to trade zeros in the 2nd inning. Georgia Hill singled, stole a base and was advanced to third on a nice piece of hitting from Haley Wiley. Jeneba Kilgore promptly drove in the run, stretching Oakland's advantage to 3 runs. With strain and fatigue setting in, the Viper defense gave up a pair of unearned runs while the Oakland bats went silent in the 4th and 5th innings. In the top of the 6th, their fortunes changed as Bayana Davis smashed a double and scored on a Claire Gotch single. Erickson scored on a Higbie ground out, and Gotch scored on a Carney infield out, both coming after battling 2-strike counts. However, Lamorinda started to find the groove that had gotten them to the finals as the only undefeated team and erupted for 5 runs on 2 hits to take the final lead of the day. Despite the valiant effort, the Vipers came up just short of the title.

Carmel Summer Classic
Carmel, CA

Saturday, June 30

Oakland Vipers 9, Belmont Explosion 5
The Vipers wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard in their first game of Saturday pool play. Kelsey Higbie and Claire Gotch each singled with one out, and were driven home by Alexis Carney and Bria Bryant. The Explosion answered back with 3 in the home half of the first, and held Oakland scoreless in the top of the 2nd. The Viper defense held in the bottom half, despite a walk, a single and a hit batter, with Haley Wiley pitching her way out of a bases loaded jam. Now the Oakland fire power was ready to uncork, as Gotch and Carney stroked singles to lead off. Bria Bryant stepped up and sent a drive past Belmont's right fielder for a 2-run double. Singles by Georgia Hill and Erin Erickson kept the ball rolling and when the dust stettled, Oakland had sent 12 batters to the plate and pushed across 7 runs. In the bottom of the third, Belmont made some noise of their own at the plate, but solid relief pitching from Natalie Laber limited the damage to 2 runs as she induced three easy come-backers to the mound for three force outs at home plate. Laber then struck out one and coaxed two more ground outs to put the game in the books for an Oakland win.

Oakland Vipers 3, Oakdale Valley Magic 1
The Magic went right to work playing small ball in the top of the 1st inning. A walk and a sacrifice bunt put the leadoff runner into scoring position. A well hit double brought home 1 run, but Oakland's defense held on to retire the side. The Vipers failed to get a rally going and could only manage 4 walks while striking out 7 times in the first 3 innings. This was an indication of strong pitching from both sides, as Natalie Laber, using her fastball and changeup effectively, tamed the Oakdale bats the rest of the way, striking out 5 and allowing only 3 runners to reach base after the 1st inning. In the 4th, Oakland turned opportunity into a pair of runs. Bria Bryant alertly took first base on a dropped third strike, and testing the Magic defense, stole second on the first pitch. Bayana Davis then stepped up and crushed a double to right, scoring Bryant. Jeneba Kilgore's ground out advanced Davis to third, Georgia Hill then looped a fly ball to left. The left fielder ran a long way to make the catch, but it was far enough for Davis to tag up and score the go ahead run. The Vipers added another run in the bottom of the 5th, with Alexis Carney scoring on a Kelsey Higbie single.

Oakland Vipers 12, San Carlos Force 10
Oakland wasted no time in jumping out to a lead in the top of the first, on hits by Erin Erickson and Alexis Carney. The big blow came on Claire Gotch's ringing triple, driving in a pair of Oakland runners and eventually staking the Vipers to a 5 run advantage. San Carlos answered back with 3 in the 1st, but the Vipers jumped all over the opposing pitching, plating 7 in the top of the 2nd. When the Force mounted a threat in the bottom half, the Vipers went to Natalie Laber to extinguish the flames and lock down the win.

Sunday July 1

Oakland Vipers 4, San Anselmo Storm 2
Haley Wiley threw 5 strong innings for Oakland, as the Vipers combined timely hits and aggressive base running for a 3-0 lead. Erin Erickson led off the bottom of the 1st with a walk. Callie Prince was brought on as a courtesy runner for catcher Erickson, she quickly stole second and scored on Alexis Carney's base hit. Carney would score on a Claire Gotch ground out, and the Vipers were up by a pair of runs. Wiley was very efficient from the circle and, combining with the defense behind her, got 8 outs on ground balls into the 6th inning while holding the Storm scoreless. Later in the 6th, when the San Anselmo bats started to make some noise of their own with a pair of runs, Oakland went to pitcher Natalie Laber to squelch the rally and preserve a 1-run lead. The Vipers then came up with an insurance run in the bottom of the 6th on a Gotch rbi single, then closed it out with a scoreless top of the 7th.

Alamden Lightning 6, Oakland Vipers 4
The Vipers wasted no time getting started in the semifinal game, as Erin Erickson and Alexis Carney stroked base hits. Haley Wiley, as courtesy runner for Erickson, scored from 2nd on Carney's single, Bria Bryant's double plated Carney, and Natalie Laber's single brought home Bryant. But after the first, Almaden's pitching and defense clamped down on the Oakland attack, with the Lightning scoring 6 runs that went unanswered until the 4th, when Oakland's Bayana Davis scored on a Jeneba Kilgore single. Pitching in relief, Laber held Almaden scoreless in the final 4 innings, but despite a hard fought effort, Oakland couldn't overcome the 2 run deficit.