Blaze Black 14U finishes 
seventh at nationals

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The Bureau County Blaze Black 14 and under softball squad recently competed in the ASA National Tournament in Overland Park, Kan., compiling a 5-3 record at the tournament and finishing in seventh place.

“It went real well, we started off slow and didn’t hit real well early with the first three games, but then our bats came alive,” Blaze Black coach Bob James said of his team’s tournament performance. “There was definitely some good teams there and it was a good measuring stick for us, for our kids and our organization.”

The Blaze kicked off the tournament last Thursday with a 8-1 loss to the Harley’s Angels of Missouri. Heidi James picked up the loss on the mound, giving up five earned runs off of five Angels’ hits over three and one-third innings of work. Johnna Schultz was the leading hitter for the Blaze, going 2-3 at the plate. Tori DeWaele touched home plate for the Blaze’s lone run.

In Thursday’s second contest, the Blaze broke open a 1-1 tie, rallying for a two-run eighth to pull out a 3-2 victory over the Dakota Impact. Schultz pitched all eight innings for the Blaze, allowing only four hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. Brooke Kamphuis led the way for the Blaze bats, finishing 2-4, Jordann Mason went 1-3 with a double in the win.

The Blaze started Friday’s slate with a tough 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Rebels. The Rebels notched both of their runs in the third inning off of losing pitcher Jordann Mason, who allowed eight hits in her three innings of work. James and Emily Phillips collected the Blaze’s lone two hits, and Ashlyn Kennedy notched the lone score in the fifth.

The Blaze rebounded for the second contest Friday, with their bats coming to life in a 12-0 rout of Owatonna. Tori DeWaele finished a perfect 3-3 at the dish with a double and triple, Schultz also went 3-3, and Allison Von Holten went 2-3. James picked up the win on the mound, shutting out Owatonna over four innings of work, with only two hits allowed.

The Blaze picked up another win in Friday’s final contest, topping Katz Brown 9-6. The Blaze poured on six runs in the second inning to take a 7-2 lead that they would hold on to for the win. Schultz got the win, going four and two-thirds innings and allowing six runs, only two of which were earned, off of eight hits. Kennedy notched a save holding Katz Brown scoreless over her one and a third innings of work. James finished 2-4 with a double, Tori DeWaele registered a pair of hits with a triple, and both Von Holten (2-4) and Emily Phillips (2-3), joined them with multiple hits.

Saturday saw the Blaze continue their winning ways, as they rallied for a three-run seventh to sneak past the Osh Kosh Raiders 8-7. Kennedy picked up the win, going six innings with three runs allowed off of five Raiders hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Sydney Miller had a big game at the plate, finishing 3-4, and Schultz, VonHolten and Kennedy all picked up a pair of hits to lead the Blaze to victory.

The Blaze hit parade continued in their next game as they combined for 13 runs off of 15 hits to top the Brandon Valley Scream 13-0, with James pitching five shutout innings and giving up only two hits. At the plate four Blaze players registered multiple hits, Tori DeWaele (2-4), Kamphuis (3-4), Shultz (2-4), VonHolten (2-4), and Brandi DeWaele (2-3).

In Saturday’s third contest, the last of the tournament, the Wichita Impact edged out the Blaze 7-4 behind a four-run fifth inning.

There was a scary moment for Blaze players and coaches alike in the first inning of the contest when Heidi James was clotheslined by a Wichita player while attempting to steal second. The impact took off James’ helmet, and she was knocking unconscious briefly after hitting the ground.. James is doing alright after suffering a concussion in the incident, which shook up the Blaze squad.

Schultz picked up the loss pitching. going three and a third while allowing four earned runs off of six hits. Miller kept her hot bat alive finishing 3-3, and Kamphuis picked up a pair of hits as well.

The Blaze Black squad finished their season with a 39-15-1 record.

• The Blaze Red 14u squad also competed at the Nationals, compiling a 2-3 record. The Blaze 18u team played their National tournament in Wichita, finishing 1-3.

• Blaze tryouts for the 2010 season will be held in Wyanet on September 5-6, and possibly the next weekend as well. Age groups will consist of 10u, 12u, 14u, 16u, and 18u. For tryout information please contact Bob James at (815) 872-0579 or (815) 866-3679, Dave Shepard at (815) 699-7208, or Shawn Sons at (815) 579-9164.

• A large contingent of former Blaze players have moved on to the college ranks of softball, including BCR Softball Player of the Year Erin Polte, who will play at Graceland University in Iowa with fellow Blaze alum Alyssa James. Other Blaze players continuing their softball careers at the next level include Jheri Emmerling, Cally Kowalski, and Alyssa Rose, who will all suit up for the Eagles of IVCC, Lauren DuBay (Coe College), Gwen Holmes (Millikin University), and Samantha Sons (Southern Wesleyan University).