Shannon Saile, Madison McPherson, and Ashley Blessin – otherwise known as the Bradenton Slice pitching staff – have been named the JWOS Co-Players of the Week after a stellar week in the circle.
In three games on the week, the staff combined to allow just 1 run in 22 innings of work and posted a perfect 3-0 record. The trio allowed seven hits and six walks, and collected 38 strikeouts. Thanks to FGCL broadcaster Gray Robertson for the statistical assistance, those numbers equate to a 0.32 staff ERA and an average of 1.7 strikeouts per inning on the week.
McPherson went the distance in an 8-inning battle against the Bradenton Lynx on Tuesday, throwing 100 pitches and allowing four hits and one run. She did not give up a walk and struck out seventeen batters. The Georgia Tech hurler posted a trio of strikeouts in three separate innings in the game, striking out the side twice.
Against the FGCL Impact on Wednesday, it was Blessin’s turn in the circle. The Marshall product also recorded a complete game, allowing two hits in seven innings without giving up a run. She struck out seven and walked two. After throwing a perfect game through three innings, Blessin got out of a 2-on, 2-out jam in the fourth by recording a strikeout on three pitches to retire the side.
In the Slice’s Thursday matchup against Fastpitch U, Shannon Saile recorded the team’s third consecutive complete-game victory. She allowed just one hit in seven innings of work, striking out fourteen. In her sole outing of the week, Saile threw two-thirds of her pitches for strikes against FPU.
The Slice’s final regular-season game was cancelled due to weather on Friday. The trio of pitchers will look to lead the team to the league championship in the playoffs that start on Monday.
During the collegiate season, Saile suits up for Oklahoma, while McPherson plays for Georgia Tech and Blessin for Marshall. Both Saile and McPherson will be “super seniors” for the 2021 season, playing under the NCAA’s extended eligibility waiver, while Blessin completed her would-be freshman campaign with the Thundering Herd in 2020.
