The host Kelowna Heat won five of seven games and claimed the bronze medal at the Spring Sizzle U18 girls fastball tournament at High Noon Park over the May long weekend.
The Heat opened the weekend with a come-from-behind 7-6 win over the Cloverdale Fury. Katie Huston had three RBIs and Maddie Foster added two to lead the way. Danya Truscott-Plitt earned the save picking up for Huston in the fifth.
In Game 2, the Heat was an easy 14-2 winner over Prince George. Gina Selfe with a home run, Emma Wilton, Foster and Huston all had perfect days at the plate with Foster picking up three RBIs.
Winning pitcher Truscott-Plitt was forced in to catch despite not having done so for over two years when regular catcher Racquel Bennett went down with an ankle injury, and second catcher Sara Miki away taking part in a grad event.
Tatania Brazhina finished up the game on the mound.
The third game saw Kelowna take down the eventual silver medal winning Coquitlam Classics 10 -1 with Wilton, Truscott-Plitt and the now returned Sara Miki each picking up three RBIs. Selfe pitched a five-hitter for the win.
The third game of the day saw the Heat come out flat against the Richmond Islanders dropping a 9-2 decision. Truscott-Plitt went 2-for-2 picking up both RBIs.
After finishing second in pool play, the Heat defeated the SSSWR Thunder 4-3.
Raquel Bennett homered and drive in two runs. Selfe was the winning pitcher, striking out eight over seven innings.
In the semifinal, the Heat came up short against the eventual tournament winners, the South Delta Invaders. Racquel Bennett hit her second home run in as many games but it wasn’t enough in a 3-1 loss.
In the third-place game on Sunday, the Heat downed the Richmond Islanders 10-3, avenging a loss to the same team earlier in the tourney. Emma Wilton highlighted the Kelowna offense with a two-run home run, while Shayla Tyerman and Candice Vuong both had RBIs.
Dani Knopf played solid D on the weekend, and chipped in with timely hits, while Dana Ingram was steady at first base.
