Hollister Heat 12-and under B travel softball coach Todd Freitas
called it the most exciting game he has been involved with in his
six years of coaching travel softball.
Hollister Heat 12-and under B travel softball coach Todd Freitas called it the most exciting game he has been involved with in his six years of coaching travel softball. Freitas was referring to the championship game of the NorCal Junior Olympic B Championships at Twin Creeks Softball Complex in Sunnyvale this past weekend.
The Heat 12’s came from behind in the bottom of the eighth to edge the East Valley Twisters 7-6 and take home the first place hardware. The winning run was scored by Rachel Maheu, who sped home from third base on a safety squeeze from Bri Romero. Maheu had played hero at the plate, tripling in Haley Macfarlane and Amanda Frey for the tying runs in that fateful eighth frame.
By finishing in the top two, the Heat qualified for the ASA Wester National’s, which will be held in Roseville beginning July 28.
“I thought we’d be this good at the beginning of the summer,” said Freitas. “I thought this team would go farther than any of the other three teams.”
The Heat went 4-0 in the tourney. On Friday, it breezed by the Petaluma Breeze 8-0. Sarah Solis, who pitched 21 innings in the tournament with 16 strikeouts, pitched six innings for the win, twirling a one-hitter. Mary Hernandez pitched a scoreless final inning.
The Heat was challenged by the Pride of Morgan Hill on Saturday, but prevailed 4-2. Solis pitched all seven innings, fanning seven Pride hitters. Maheu had two hits and scored three times. Elena Fata had a two-run single and added a sac fly RBI in the seventh.
Hernandez got an 8-2 victory over the Burlingame Flames, pitching into the fifth inning.
In the win over the Twisters, newcomer Lizzy Gatto contributed a key two-run double. Brenna Carrillo-Zazueta had doubled earlier in the inning.
The Heat 12’s are now 17-4-2 for the summer.
-The Heat 14-and under B travel softball team placed second in the same tournament, fighting all the way back through the loser’s bracket. The Heat 14’s, which went 4-1 for the tournament, were knocked down to the loser’s bracket with a loss to the San Carlos Force.
Finishing in the top two qualified the Heat 14’s for the ASA Western National’s in Springfield, Missouri.
“We’re still thinking about it,” said coach Steve Brown. “We only have one 14 year-old on the team.”
The other option is either at tournament in Beaumont, Texas or in Southern California.
