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08/06/2016 12:00 AMNorth Haven’s Lauren Card helped the Connecticut Eliminators softball team win the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) National Championship Northeast title in a tournament that was played in Salisbury, Maryland from July 19-24. The Eliminators competed in a 14-U Open Division that featured 36 teams from 10 states and they became the first squad from Connecticut to win the USSSA National Championship Northeast crown.
Card was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the event by the tournament directors, posting a record of 6-0 with two saves and an earned-run average of less than 1.00. Card also batted .392 and notched the second-most RBI on the Eliminators in the tourney.
The Eliminators went 9-2 on their way to the title, scoring 81 runs and allowing just 23 in the tournament. On the last day, the Eliminators lost their first game and thus needed to win their next three to claim the crown. Card pitched the first game against Bayside Breeze Covey from Maryland and the Eliminators prevailed 11-3. Card then pitched the Eliminators to victory in their next two contests. In the tournament’s final game, Card took the mound with her club down 1-0 in the third inning and pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way against the Buckeye Heat of Ohio. The Eliminators scored two runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh for a 5-1 win that clinched the title.
Card pitched for the North Haven Indians softball squad as a freshman this spring. She recorded six wins with a save and an ERA of 1.97 in 78.2 innings, including a victory over East Lyme in the Class L State Tournament.