In a battle of two 16u teams playing up a division, Sugar & Spikes handedly defeated Scorpio-Elias 9-0 Sunday to capture first place in the USSSA 18u Open Qualifier at Victory Lane Sports Complex in Glendale.

The Spikes benefited from a stellar pitching performance by Diana Hartman. The young hurler nibbled the outside corner all game en route to a five-inning shutout.

In addition to striking out three batters, Hartman scored a run and smacked a two-RBI double in the third inning. Erica Downing then plated Hartman and herself with a soaring homerun over the centerfield fence. Downing's homer capped a big inning for Sugar & Spikes. After pushing only one run across on two walks and two hits in the second inning, the Spikes plated eight in the third.

Eden Sheldon blooped a Texas leaguer to right field to start the inning and later scored on a double by Daisy Gomez. After Emily Hodges walked and stole second, Gomez scored on a Stephanie Terese sacrifice fly to center. Hodges scored a batter later when Betsy Kelly sent a double screaming to center.

Scorpio batters Nikki Trujillo and Emily Clark provided a small spark for the struggling offense. Trujillo went 2-for-2 at the plate, while Clark hit a double to the left-center gap in the second inning.

Gomez scored Sugar & Spikes’ first run of the game in the second inning. After walking with one out and advancing to second on a single by Hodges, Gomez sped home on Terese’s single to center.

In a team effort, no player collected more than one hit, as the Spikes amassed seven hits, five walks and nine runs in five innings.

Scorpio pitcher Rachel Pleger started off the game with perfect first inning before struggling with control in the third. Reliever Trujillo pitched two and a third innings, gave up two runs and collected two strikeouts.