Rage teams find success on the field
The 14U Washington Rage took their third top-two finish of the season at last weekend’s Summer Warm Up tournament in Selah.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/WASHINGTON RAGE
The 12U Washington Rage, coached by Brooke Richardson and Stephanie Lopez, took third at the Summer Warm Up tournament in Selah last weekend.
SELAH – Four Washington Rage fastpitch softball teams competed at the Summer Warm Up tournament in Selah over the weekend, with three of the four teams notching top-three finishes.
The 10U Rage placed third, one of the 12U teams placed third and the 14U Rage took second in their respective age brackets.
“It’s fun to watch, and it’s fun to see the kids start to click,” said Bob Richardson, head coach of the 14U and 18U Rage teams and general manager of the Rage organization. “They get better and better.”
Now over three months into their seasons, those Rage teams have found success at different tournaments throughout the season. The 10Us have had five top-three finishes in tournaments, bringing home two titles; the older 12U team currently holds a 12-8 record in games this season; the 14U Rage have placed first or second in three of their four tournaments this season.
“We start playing in March, and we’ll go from March to August,” Richardson said. “We take a month off, and then we play September and October. Our break is from September to New Year’s Day, and then we start right back up again.”
That August break comes after teams compete at nationals, where both Rage 12U teams, the 14U and 18U teams will play at the end of July.
“We go to nationals at the end of July, so all the work we’ve put in since January – we’re hoping it culminates in placing high at nationals,” Richardson said. “We’re hoping to trophy, so a top-eight finish at nationals would be awesome.”
Competing with one another for years helps players gain experience with one another on the field, Richardson said. The Rage’s 18U squad begins its season this weekend, as they and three other Rage teams travel to Tri-Cities for the NSA State Tournament.
“With (the 18U team), I’d say half of that group has been together since they were 10,” Richardson said. “They've been playing a long time together.”
Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.
Disclosure: Bob Richardson also serves as General Manager of the Columbia Basin Herald when he isn’t coaching.
