( – Edited version of release from USSSA Florida Pride – )

Facing a decisive game three in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series, the Florida Pride handed the ball to ace pitcher Cat Osterman. She was electric, pitching her way to a two-hit, two-run, seven strikeout complete-game performance over the Chicago Bandits.

Osterman and the Pride out-pitched and out-hit the Bandits, posting seven runs off 12 hits on the scoreboard. Osterman held Chicago to just two runs on two hits, both Samantha Findlay home runs, for a 7-2 victory. The end of this game not only marked the end of the NPF playoffs, but also the end of two illustrious careers for the Bandits in Jennie Finch and Stacy May.

Leading off the top of the second, Findlay stepped up to face off with Osterman and proceeded to blast the first pitch deep over the left-field wall for a solo home run to give the Bandits a 1-0 lead.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the second, Pride third baseman Andrea Duran dropped a bunt back to Bandits pitcher Kristina Thorson. Duran would be out on the play, but both runners would advance to second and third base.

Lauren Lappin, struggling in earlier playoff games, redeemed herself by blasting a change-up to the left field fence, scoring two runs to give Florida a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Bandits starting pitcher Thorson was pulled following the double for Nikki Nemitz. With Lappin on second, Tonya Callahan blasted her own double, scoring Lappin for a 3-1 Pride lead.

Nemitz stopped the bleeding shortly thereafter, getting the Bandits out of the inning down by two runs. Thorson finished the 1.1 innings of work with three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Then it was rookie versus rookie as Charlotte Morgan faced off with Nemtiz. Morgan got the better of the two in the bottom of the third, ripping a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Pride a 4-1 lead.

With two on and no outs, Kelly Kretschman continued her hot hitting, blasting a two-RBI single to right field to give the Pride a 6-1 lead. Immediately following the single, Nemitz was replaced by Jessica Sallinger in the pitcher’s circle.

Nemitz finished the game with 1.2 innings pitched, seven hits for three runs and one strikeout in 12 batters faced. Bases were loaded with no outs as Sallinger stepped into the circle to face the potent Pride lineup. Sallinger stopped the bleeding as she got three-straight Florida batters to ground out.

The bleeding continued just one inning later as Natasha Watley blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence to put the Pride up 7-1. With three outs left until elimination, Findlay another homer off Osterman to bring the score to 7-2.

The championship victory is the second consecutive National Pro Fastpitch trophy for Osterman and the first ever in Florida Pride history.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –