Week 1

PANTHERS BLANK ROCKETS IN '02 DEBUT

March 16, 2002
Alameda, CA

Behind the overpowering pitching of Barbara Brock and Natalie Laber, the Oakland Panthers defeated the Alameda Rockets 5-0 in their Bobbysox division 1A season opener at Littlejohn field.

The Panthers got off to an early start, plating a run in the top of the first and never looking back, scoring a pair in the second and fourth innings each to seal the victory. Barbara and Natalie combined for 5 strikeouts over 4 innings. The final out came when Natalie plucked a pop up out of the air just off the pitcher's mound.

Next Saturday the Panthers take on the Nightmares, 11:45 at Marshall Field in Oakland.

Week 3

PANTHERS LATE INNING SURGE DISMANTLES RED DRAGONS

April 6, 2002
Laber Field (formerly Owen Jones), Oakland, CA

Other teams used the spring break week to relax and recover from the opening of the season. Not the Oakland Panthers, who utilized the off-week to hone their skills, and the payoff was huge. The result: a late inning rally to seal a victory over the Red Dragons by a score of 7-3. Natalie Laber continues to shine on the mound, striking out 2 through the 2nd inning. Both she and Barbara Brock demonstrated the composure and grit it takes to compete at the Bobbysox 1A level.

The Red Dragons opened up the scoring with 2 runs on a series of seeing-eye grounders in the second, only to be matched by the Panthers in the bottom of the second. Then the Panthers defense worked to seal off the base paths, and in the home half, the bats came out blazing, scoring 2 in the third and 3 more in the fourth.

Next week's game pits the undefeated Panthers against the Dancing Dolphins at Marshall Field, first pitch 9:30am.

Week 4

Panthers Edge Dolphins in Defensive Battle

April 13, 2002
Marshall Field
Oakland, CA

Riding a two game winning streak, the Panthers extended their flawless record against the Dancing Dolphins in a tight 2-1 victory. Defense was the key in this contest, with yet another outstanding pitching performance turned in by the tandem of Barbara Brock and Natalie Laber. Barbara, after striking out the side in the first, was relieved by Natalie in the third inning, together they continued their dominance of Bobbysox 1A batters.

There were several stellar defensive plays, including a key put out at first base in the second inning when Barbara snared a shot headed up the middle, wheeled and threw to Alex Holm for the out at first, squelching what could have been a dangerous rally by the Dolphins. In the top of the fourth Cara Devereux reached high on a sizzling line drive and made a magnificent catch on what would have surely been an extra base hit.

On the offensive side there were many contributors, including Kelsey Higbie, Stephanie Yun, Shanelle Middleton and Jaclyn Caldwell.

The Panthers put their perfect record on the line next Saturday at Owen Jones field when they host Alameda 1A-1. First pitch 9:30.

Week 5

PANTHERS BLANK SUPER GIRLS 2-0

April 20, 2002
Laber Field
Oakland, CA

The Oakland Panthers improved on their undefeated record as they downed the Alameda Super Girls 2-0 in Bobbysox 1A action. The Panthers are quickly earning a reputation as a team with incredible poise on the pitchers mound. Natalie Laber, even after having loading the bases on a pair of hit batters, kept her cool and worked out of jams in the first and second, while Barbara Brock induced whiffs in the 3rd and 4th innings to maintain a remarkable 0.0 team ERA against Alameda squads in this 2002 campaign.

The Panthers' bats took a short while to come alive. The game started under gray skies but gave way to patchy sunshine. Coinciding with the slight increase in temperature, the Panthers received contributions up and down the lineup, notably from Jaclyn Caldwell, Jasmyne Drakeford and Alex Holm.

Next Saturday the Red Dragons play host to the Panthers at Montclair Field in what should prove to be an exciting rematch from week 3. The Red Dragons will be looking to avenge a 4-3 loss, first pitch 11:00am.

Week 6

Panthers Late Rally Tops Red Dragons 6-3

April 27,2002
Montclair Field
Oakland CA

The Oakland Panthers bats started slowly this Saturday morning, but when the dust finally settled at Montclair Field, the Panther's undefeated streak was extended to 5 straight as they topped the Red Dragons 6-3. Barbara Brock closed out a scoreless 4th inning on the mound after the Panthers rallied from behind in the top of the frame, propelled by a clutch hit from Brea Winn to sustain what turned out to be their decisive at bat.

Defensively, Shanelle Middleton scooped up a smash down the third base line and turned it into a force out to squelch a mounting Red Dragons rally in the first. Kristen Kanga hurled a scoreless first in her pitching debut, followed by a strong debut outing for Jaclyn Caldwell who pitched out of trouble in the second. Natalie Laber threw a strong third and helped her own cause with a sizzling line drive single in the winning rally.

The Panthers take on the Nightmares for the first time next Saturday at Laber Field, great tickets are still available, first pitch 9:30.

Week 7

Unbeaten Streak Continues as Panthers Down Nightmares 4-2

May 4, 2002
Oakland, CA

The skies above Laber Field were overcast in a typical Oakland morning fog as teams took to the diamond Saturday morning; a chill was experienced by some of the spectators filling the grandstands. And though the players hands may have started out cold, their bats did not.

Panthers starting pitcher Jaclyn Caldwell was touched up for a pair of runs in the top of the first, but answered by contributing a hit in the bottom of the frame, along with Kelsey Higbie and Cara Devereux, manufacturing 2 runs to pull even. Jaclyn pitched a scoreless second inning while the Panthers had trouble catching up to the offerings of the Nightmares' hurlers in the bottom half.

In the third, Kristen Kanga retired the side, then the Panthers set to work to take the lead for good, with contributions from Alex Holm, Emily Wilson, Stephanie Yun and Jeneba Kilgore.

Barbara Brock's high heat proved to be too much for Nightmares batters in the top of the fourth as she notched her second save in as many attempts. When the smoke had cleared the scoreboard read Panthers 4, Nightmares 2.

On May 11 the Alameda Rockets play host to the Panthers at Littlejohn Field in a rematch of the season opener, first pitch 11:00am.

Week 8

Panthers Continue Winning Ways, Rockets Fall 2-0

May 11, 2002
Alameda, CA

The Oakland Panthers and the Alameda Rockets had no idea that their rematch of the season opener would evolve into a hard fought, physical, defensive battle when they met at Alameda's Littlejohn Field Saturday. But the Panthers, riding a 6 game winning streak, scored a pair in the first inning and never looked back, blanking the Rockets 2-0.

The game will be remembered not only by a number of defensive gems, but in days to come by a few bumps and bruises sustained by members of both squads.

In the first inning, Alex Holm scooped a shot headed down the right field line and turned it into a quick out at first, ensuring a tidy 1-2-3 pitching performance by Jaclyn Caldwell. On a hard hit ground ball with one out in the second inning, Emily Wilson fielded the ball cleanly and threw to shortstop Jeneba Kilgore for an apparent force out at second. But the ball glanced off the Alameda runner's helmet, and the Rockets had 2 runners on still with only one out. The very next batter sent a shot to the left side of the infeield, but Jeneba went deep in the hole to make a clean pick and fired to Shanelle Middleton at third for a force out to squelch what proved to be the Rockets' most threatening rally of the afternoon.

Manager Kris Holm and the team trainers had a busy afternoon tending to the minor injuries incurred upon Brea Winn (hit by pitch), Stephanie Yun (back spasms) and Barbara Brock, who accidentally took a ball off the cheek in warm ups. It would take much more than that to keep her out of the game, though, as she came right back to retire the final 2 Rockets batters in the fourth, sealing the win.

You can still catch exciting Bobbysox 1A action; next Saturday, May 18, the Panthers face the Red Dragons at Laber Field, first pitch 9:30 am.

Week 9

Panthers Prevail Over Red Dragons in 9-4 Slugfest

May 18, 2002
Oakland CA

The hard hitting Oakland Panthers were pushed by the energetic play of the Oakland Red Dragons as teams wind down the 2002 Bobbysox 1A season. But it was the Panthers again taking the contest, in a display of relentless offense and alert defense, by a final score of 9-4.

Kelsey Higbie and Barbara Brock ignited a rally in the first, and Jeneba Kilgore muscled a 3-2 pitch to left to deliver the the Panthers the lead in the top of the first. But it was a lead that wouldn't last long: determined to hand the Panthers their first loss of the season, the Red Dragons strung together a series of hits and, combined with aggressive base running, took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. The Panthers went on to score 2 in the second and 2 in the third while keeping the Dragons in check, limiting them to 1 run in the bottom of the second.

The Red Dragons made some exceptional plays in the field to keep the score close, cutting down Panthers runners at the plate on 2 occasions. But the defensive play of the game came in the second inning when pitcher Jaclyn Caldwell snared a pop fly and fired a strike to Shanelle Middleton alertly covering second base where a Dragons runner was doubled off to end the inning.

The Panthers added 4 insurance runs in the top of the fourth, and held the Dragons to a single run in the bottom of the frame, securing the victory.

The Panthers wrap up their season with their unblemished record on the line as they face the Nightmares Saturday, June 1 at Marshall Field, first pitch 9:30.

Week 10

Nightmares Down Panthers in Season Finale

June 1, 2002
Oakland CA

In a rematch of last month's matchup, the Nightmares handed the Panthers their lone mark in the loss column with a 5-3 victory at Marshall Field. Regardless, the Panthers, by posting an 8-1 mark overall, secured the 2002 championship for the Oakland Bobbysox 1A (9 & under) division.

While quality pitching and defense have been team traits throughout the campaign, Panthers pitchers endured an uncharacteristic rough outing, while the Nightmares did a superior job hitting in clutch situations and in retiring opponent runners on the basepaths. But like the champions they are, the Panthers took it all in stride, completing a season that exemplified enthusiasm, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Hats off to the Champs!
Alex Holm
Natalie Laber
Jeneba Kilgore
Kelsey Higbie
Kristen Kanga
Jazmyne Drakeford
Shanele Middleton
Jalcyln Caldwell
Cara Devereux
Barbara Brock
Stephanie Yun
Emily Wilson
Brea Winn

Steve Kilgore, coach
Rocky Laber, coach
Kris Holm, manager

©2002 Oakland Panthers