Lady Magic made it to the big field -- Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame Stadium, the site of the Women's College World Series -- on Friday, but was shutout by the defending national champion Gold Coast Hurricanes (Fla.) 5-0 eliminating the Elk Grove squad from the ASA 18 Gold Nationals in Oklahoma City.
Cal-bound pitcher and Sheldon graduate Jolene Henderson went five and a third innings giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks before giving way to Pleasant Grove junior and Bee Player of the Year Ally Carda. Carda pitched the final two outs of the sixth inning, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks.
Elk Grove junior Shelby Wisdom pitched a scoreless seventh, not allowing a hit and picking up a strikeout.
Sheldon junior third baseman Danielle Henderson continued her hot hitting in Oklahoma City, going 2-for-3 against the Hurricanes. Jolene Henderson, Johansen of Modesto's Sadie Coenen, Rodriguez of Fairfield's Kiara "Yaya" Garcia, and Rosemont's Simone Heyward each had base hits for Lady Magic on Friday.
By virtue of a late-night/early-morning win on Friday in which it was on the field until 1:50 a.m., the Lady Magic assured themselves of leaving Oklahoma City with at least a .500 record and are among the Top 24 teams in the nation.
