Feel the Heat: Warden team third at regional softball
Team-oriented approach fuels Heat Fastpitch in six wins
BEAVERTON, Ore. — A solid season for the Heat Fastpitch softball team concluded last weekend with a third-place finish at the Amateur Softball Association's Northwest Region Tournament.
The Heat, a 16-and-under team based in Warden and playing in the ASA's B Division, compiled a 6-2 record at the tournament. Head coach Randy Wright said the team came together at the perfect time, a judgment he based on the fact the Heat were avenging losses to teams they'd faced before.
"As the tournament went on they started believing in themselves more," Wright said. "That's probably the highlight of the whole tournament, is when you're beating teams that have beaten you."
The Heat opened on July 20 with 4-1 victory over the UC Lightning of Umatilla, Ore. Later that day, they soundly defeated the Lumbre Wildfire, another Oregon-based team, 13-1.
The following day, the Heat were shut out 6-0 by Beaverton-based Murrayhill Magic. Dropping into the loser's bracket, the Heat responded with four consecutive victories that earned them a chance at a championship game berth.
Saturday's schedule included a 4-2 win in a rematch with the UC Lightning, a 7-6 win over the Yakima Pepsi Stealers and a 5-4 win over the Tri-City Bandidos. Yakima and Tri-City both defeated the Heat at the recent ASA state tournament in Moses Lake.
On Sunday, the Heat defeated the Blaze of Redmond, Ore., 7-6, but were eliminated in an 8-0 decision to the Murrayhill Magic.
The team is comprised of Amanda Martinez, Whitney Riojas, Cassandra Kisler, Jenny Guerra, Kaitlyn Yamane, Jordan McCourtie, Elizabeth Pruneda, Sandra Castoreno, Randi Wright, Emma Witwer, Amanda Martin and Katherine Martin.
Randy Wright said his girls played well in all aspects, and he credited them for a blue-collar approach throughout the season that set up their success at regionals.
"It's fortunate to have a group of girls like I do," Wright said. "If I had to say the strength of this team, it's their character. They don't get down on each other and they play team ball."