Shockers bring World Series championship back to Ponchatoula

PONCHATOULA, LA: The Tangi Shockers Purple 2k10 softball squad capped off a busy summer with a bang.

The 12U team went 8-1 on the way to the Fastpitch America Softball Association (FASA) World Series championship in Branson, Missouri earlier in July.

The Shockers are made up of girls located within 45 miles of Ponchatoula. Most of the girls have been playing together for two and a half years, according to coach M.J. Nobles.

Nineteen teams competed in the tournament.

“I saw resiliency from them,” said coach MJ Nobles. “There were ups and downs. They stayed resilient and stayed in the game and they continued to fight.”

The Shockers beat Sweet Heat Elite (S.H.E) 3-2 to clinch the championship. The team trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the third with two on base and one out.

Ayeva Nobles sent a triple to right field that scored the two runs and gave the Shockers a 3-2 lead with Sweet Heat Elite’s final chance to bat coming in the top of the fourth.

Shocker pitcher Jalayah Slaughter closed the door on a S.H.E. comeback. She forced two infield popups and a flyout to left field to clinch the championship.

“There’s a bond between the coaches and the players,” coach Nobles said. “It was exciting.

The Shockers finished the season with a 49-23 record across several tournaments.

“I want to give my entire team credit,” Nobles said. “It takes a team effort to win. It was a team effort from our kids, our coaches, and our parents.”