By Don Duncan

Assistant Coach of the Berthoud Blaze

Newly formed Berthoud Blaze Black fast-pitch softball team started out fast by winning the USSSA Fall Classic 16U open division held in Brighton this weekend. The Blaze team breezed through the winner’s bracket Saturday defeating two Colorado Springs teams. Pitchers Leah Tanaka and Stevie Smith combined to strike out 20 hitters while only giving up three runs. The Blaze team members pounded out eleven hits while scoring 12 runs while keeping constant pressure on their opponents’ defense with aggressive hitting and base running.

Smith picked up right where she left off Sunday morning hurling a three-hit gem leading her team to an exciting 7-5 victory over the tournament’s only other undefeated team, Brighton hometown favorite Colorado Dawgs. A wild last inning yielded a combined nine runs between the two teams, both rallying with two outs in their half inning. With the tying run at the plate, Smith snagged a comeback grounder for the last out to end the game.

The Blaze fell victim in the championship game, losing to Broomfield’s Colorado Majestix 7-4. Since it was a double elimination format, the Blaze girls were able to regroup for a 6-1 victory over the same Majestix team in the second championship game to win the tournament title. Smith was again in the circle for the critical game and she saved her best for last, scattering four hits and only allowing one run. The offensive attack was relentless and consistent as the offense generated six hits and numerous fielding errors on hard hit balls. The attack was lead by Leah Tanaka and Rachael Carter with two hits each.

The Blaze record for the weekend was 4-1. For the tournament, the team batting average was a solid .294 with eight extra base hits for the weekend. Blaze catcher Chelsea Brewer was selected tournament MVP dominating the tournament with her defensive play at catcher and batting clean up. Coach Norm Sproles said, “These girls came together as a team in a very short amount of time and showed a lot of heart in winning this tournament.”