Welcome to Groovy Plays
September 20, 2004 --
This site is dedicated to some of the most incredible plays we have ever seen. We want to save these memories and tell these tales for years to come. They were unforgetable then and they will remain unforgetable here.
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What makes the Groove?
June 17, 2005 --
There are some things and some moments in time that help define what you are. In the 2005 ASA 12U B Class Championship game, 3 big things happened that helps you understand what being a Groove Girl is like. Inchworm pitched one of the first 6 games and got her win. Stitches pitched the other 5 and won all 5. Both pitched well but Stitches was on top of her game and she seemed to earn the right to pitch the Championship game. Knowing she was tired and could probably use the break the coaching staff discussed which of 3 pitchers to start in that game. They knew the pride was there and was concerned about how it would affect Stitches if she didn't pitch in the Championship game. Junebug had the experience but was struggling with her control. Inchworm lacked Championship experience but had put in the work and had a great attitude and was undoubtedly ready and prepared for her chance. So they talked with Stitches and sure enough she didn't hesitate to offer her team-mate Inchworm the opportunity to start her first Championship game. Inchworm toed the mark and turned in as good a pitching performance as we had seen all weekend and of course got her first Championship win. Like all the Groove girls she was definitely ready to answer the call when her team needed her.
But that's not the whole story. There was also concern among the coaches that the rest of the team might let down a bit because their ACE, Stitches, wasn't on the mound. What happened instead was the whole team rallied behind Inchworm by chasing down balls, making plays and pulling out the sticks one more time to give her the support she needed to get her first Championship win and a win for the Groove. That's what being a Groove Girl is all about. Unselfishness, always being ready and doing things for each other and with each other. It's how they manage to beat teams they probably shouldn't beat. It's how they won a State Championship they probably shouldn't have won. It's why every time the Groove Girls cross the white lines into "fair territory" it means you are "fair game".
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Smooth and Mighty Mouse at USFA Southern Nationals
July 25, 2007 --
The girls were playing well in the field but here is one for the books. We were playing the Vipers. Smooth was at short stop and Mighty Mouse was at second. The Vipers hitter looped a little pop fly between short and second. Smooth ran hard to her left and stretched as far as she could and snatched the ball out of the air. She stretched so far that she lost her balance and hit the ground and rolled. As she rolled over she the ball came flying up in the air and looked like it was going to fall to the ground but Mighty Mouse came streaking across and was right there to catch the ball before it hit the ground.
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Stitches and Cassedy
July 25, 2007 --
Another little pop up between the pitcher and first base. Stitches was in the circle and Cassedy (alias Cassie)was at first base. Stitches took those long strides and reached out as far as she could but could only get the end of her glove on the ball. As the ball came out she pushed it toward Cassedy and who grabbed the ball and dove for the runner before she could get pasted her. She tagged her just in time and kept the lead off hitter off base.
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Pepe lays out in right field at USFA Southern Nationals
July 25, 2007 --
Pepe was playing right field against the SWAT. There was a slashing fly ball that was heading for foul territory but Pepe came diving and sliding across the field and reached out and made an incredible catch to kill an inning and keep the Groove in the game.
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Hammer Time
April 28, 2007 --
The Groove vs Fireball game didn't seem to be a big deal but it turned out to be one that produced another Groove Greatest plays. The Groove took an early 2 run lead but gave it up and eventually found themselves down 4-2. The 4th inning was one that we will remember for awhile. First because the girls started one of their typical come backs by scoring another run to pull up close at 4-3. There was starting to be a little hope. Then the Fireballs lead their half of the 4th with rocket to left center. Rachel took off after it and it was soon apparent that the ball was heading for the fence and possibly put the ballgame out of reach. Then from out of no where Hammer came streaking out of left field, stretched out as far as she could and made the play. Where did she come up with the speed? How did she stretch like that? Why didn't she just take the angle to cut it off? Who know? All we know is the spirit of the Groove was in her and another Great Groove play was born. Even though the Groove lost that game we will always remember Hammer streaking through the night time out field to make that play.
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Grand Slam - Not!
April 14, 2007 --
The Groove was on a roll in Round Rock. They were playing well and looked like they were heading for the top. They had the Blaze down 3 to 0 and time had run out. Maizie was looking for a shut out and all she had to do is get the last 3 outs. The inning started with a harmless grounder to Rachel at second that managed to sneak under her glove. But then Maisie got a K for the 1st out and slow roller to Em at 3rd for the 2nd out and it looked like we were finishing Saturday in the winners bracket. The next hitter got an infield hit. The next a walk and now the bases are loaded and still there is no panic. Just get the next one and get it over. The Blaze pulls out their trump card and a pinch hitter that sent a rocket to the right center fence. One, two and three runs scored but the girls hit their cut offs and finally Rachel relayed the ball to home plate. Jammerz was ready and in position. She took the two hopper from Rachel and made the tag. We all made the call "Out" but the umpire saw it differently. He said safe and the Grand Slam was enough to send us to the losers bracket. We all know Rachel and Jammerz had her at the plate so for ever more she will be "OUT" in the Groove book.
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Crutons
March 24, 2007 --
We were in San Marcus on Sunday morning playing the 92 Bombers Black. We had gone undefeated on Saturday and the girls were executing plays perfectly. The Bombers were starting the game fast and were ready to score. They had just scored a run and had another runner on 3rd base and a runner slowly walking from 1st to 2nd trying to draw a throw so they could score again. Stitches was pitching and had the ball. We quickly decided to run the "Crutons" play. Jess starts to slowly walk toward 2nd base and holding the runner at 3rd base close. With perfect timing she threw the ball to Mighty Mouse at second base. MM started the run down but quickly threw the ball home to Jammerz when she saw the Bombers break for home plate. MM made a perfect throw to Jammerz and Jammerz blocked the plate, made the tag and the girls cooked up a perfect "Cruton".
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Smooth lays out at short-stop against the Ok Force
February 18, 2007 --
Special plays come out against special teams. The Ok Force was one of those special teams that you know you have to go all out if you are going to beat them. The Groove girls were giving it their best effort against them. Pepe dove for a line drive in left field but came up short. Mighty Mouse hustled for 2 shoe string catches but again came up short. Then she stretched out on a deep fly to right center and showed us a snow cone that came out as she hit the ground. Then finally Smooth made both the effort and the catch by diving for a ball that looked like a sure hit up the middle. On the run to her left Smooth dove and came up with a glove full of dust and the ball. The play ended the inning and kept the Groove within striking distance of the Force and keeping the game from getting out of hand. Although the Groove lost 5-2 the girls effort demonstrated to everyone that they are a special team.
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Groove vs Storm Gabby vs Aspen
October 22, 2006 --
It was the second Groove vs Storm showdown. Nobody has scored and it's the last inning. Gabby walked and got to second on a past ball. An inside pitch got away from Jammerz but not too far. Gabby took off and Jammerz threw to Smooth. We believe Jammerz got her but she was called safe. The next pitch was a hit up the middle. Aspen charged hard as Gabby sped around 3rd base. Aspen cut loose with a rocket that found Jammerz ready to block the plate. Gabby had no chance. She was dead meat. Everyone rushed Jammerz at the plate then turned and rushed Aspen. That was the beginning of the end. The Groove girls went on to win the game in double OT 3 to 2.
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GREEN LIGHT!!!! GREEN LIGHT!!!!
May 1, 2005 --
Mighty Mouse, rightKilleen - Play of the weekend. ITB Championship game. One out, runner on third after a sac bunt to move her over. After the first pitch to the next batter, from SS, Mighty Mouse calls out for coach Mike's attention. Mighty Mouse asks for a pick-off play at third. Coach Mike thinks it over and gives her the green light on the play. MM gives the signal to Jammerz and Curly to let them know whats gonna happen. Next pitch, Mighty Mouse sneaks in behind the runner and Jammerz nails the throw. "RUNDOWN"....the Groove goes crazy. MM throws home to Jammerz, then Jammerz runs the runner back to third where she throws the ball to Curly for the second out. JuneBug K'd the hitter putting a zero on the board in ITB. The next half inning the Groove won the tournament on bunt by Curly.
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December 11, 2004 --
French Fry, girl with the ball The 2004 Katy Classic was our first really big 12U tournament. The girls needed to play their best because they were in with some great teams. One of those teams was the Katy Express. The Express showed a lot of power and great hitting but on this play they popped a hard to get to fly ball behind 2nd base. It looked like the ball was going to drop in for a hit just out of reach of Mighty Mouse and Inchworm. All of a sudden KJ came flying in from center field and dove to make the catch. It ended the inning and the scoring threat and helped make the game one of our finest hours.
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Making the Connexion at 3rd
November 7, 2004 --
Not many plays will top this one for timing. Against the Connexion in Round Rock the Groove was not making many plays but they made this one like they have been practicing it every day. The Connexion had bases loaded with 2 out and wanted another run. They had the runner at first base taking leads 1/2 way to 2nd base trying to draw the throw from Jammerz. Jammerz walked toward the runner and Z covered home plate for her. When the runner didn't try to get back the play was on. Jammerz kept her eyes on 3rd while slowly walking to first. The Connexion had to respect Jammerz arm and couldn't get much of a lead off of 3rd base. Stitches was covering first. When Jammerz threw to 1st base the runner had no place to go. Stitches looked at the runner between 1st and 2nd and when she did the runner at 3rd broke for home. Stitches made a perfect throw to Z at home and they had the pickle play at 3rd that they wanted. It was a 1 throw pickle play to Ray Ray at 3rd who ran the runner down for the 3rd out. The play had perfect timing for all 3 throws and kept the Connexion from scoring more runs. Not many teams could have pulled off that play as smoothly as the Groove girls did.Rey Rey, right
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Ray Ray, Curly and Jammerz double play against the Stix
October 17, 2004 --
The Stix had runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. They hit a hard shot to right field. Ray Ray hustled to the ball and threw a one hop strike on the run to Jammerz at the plate. The Stix runner intentionally tried to run over Jammerz to knock the ball loose so there was a big collision at the plate. Jammerz held on to the ball and from her knees fired the ball to Curly at third. Curly took a hit at third also but tagged the runner trying to go from 1st to 3rd for an inning ending double play and no score. This could have been 2 game saving plays because the Stix never recovered after that and the Groove won the game to move on in the tournament. Jammerz, left
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Triple play against the Hurricanes in Seguin
September 19, 2004 --
The temperature is about 95 at 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon. The girls are hot but still fighting to stay alive in the tournament. The Herricanes had runners at 2nd and 3rd. The batter hit a line drive to Little g at 2nd base for the first out. She turned and threw to Mighty Mouse who zipped over to 2nd to double up that runner and then Mighty Mouse sees the runner at 3rd steaming for home. Mighty Mouse fires a strike to Jammerz who blocks the plate and tags the runners for the 3rd out. We run off the field happy, hugging and clapping. The Hurricane's coach convinces the umpire he called the runner at 2nd safe and they change the call (You had it right the 1st time dude). They may have changed the call on the field but in our hearts we know all 3 were out.
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Inchworm over the head, back-hand catch
September 18, 2004 --
We struggled all day making plays in the field. We were playing the N.B. Bombers who we seldom have problems with but we had made several errors and allowed them to score 3 runs off those errors. We had our tales tucked between our legs and were on the run because it seemed everything we did turned out bad. That is until Inchworm saved us from doom with 2 back to back, stretch'em out over the head catches that reminded the team, coaches and parents just how scappy and talented these girls are. The 1st catch was incredible enough but the very next batter made Inchworm run even farther turn her back to the infield and reach even further than the 1st one. The game ended in a loss but the next day, inspired by Inchworms plays, the girls came out and made play after play. Little g, Mighty Mouse and Jammerz even pulled off a triple play that was called back but remains a triple play in our minds. That Sunday the girls coined the word "PLAYMIKERS" for those girls making plays. Thanks Inchworm we will never forget those 2 plays. Inchworm, right
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