Starting off the day with temps in the 50's and winds gusting. It was another cold day in Champlin. Seems to be a theme with tournaments held here. Starting the day off with cool bats and a hot defense the blaze were off and running. Winning the first game 13 - 2. Now off to the record books we go. Starting the second game with 23 runs in the first inning. Being lead by not one but two blasts by Tori Dixon hitting her first and second homeruns in one inning. Loosing a couple balls the the softball fields neighbor. With the home runs Tori was not the only girl hitting the blaze put up 38 runs in 2 at bats and winning 38 - 1.
Game 3 kept the bats hot. Leaving to base unturned the girls came up with another 26 runs and winning the game 26 - 11. Go home and get some sleep girls all of you 9th graders had one long day after that school lock in.
Sunday starts with a sleepy team and some sleepy bats. Up next is Elm Creek always a tough compititor adn a fun game. After 4 innings the blaze are down by one run with a score of 7 - 8. Then the fatigue sets in and the errors start happening and a disappointing loss with a score of 16 - 26.
The second game on Sunday came with a price. with the blaze leading 12 - 5 the unthinkable happened. With one bad hop we lost roades for the day, so we thought, with a broken nose. By the way Roades nose, in Roades fashion got the ball to second base for the 3rd out of the inning. Being down to 9 players the blaze buckled down not giving up another run and winning the game 20 - 5. Ending pool play with a 4 - 1 and a 3 seed.
Our first game in Bracket play is Elm Creek and to the Blaze suprise Roades is back in the line up. Broken nose and all. PS Thanks to Elm Creek in the use of your mask to help our player stay safe. That is appreciated by us more than you may know. Now on to the game.
The blaze were held scoreless in the first and gave up one run. In the second inning the blaze again gave up one run but scoring 5 of there own they hold a slight lead Both teams were held scoreless in the 3rd. In the 4th inning the Blaze gave up 3 runs leaving the scre tied in the 5th inning. in the 6th the Blaze came up with 3 runs of their own. With 3 outs in the top of the 7th inning the Blaze went on to win by the score of 8 - 5.
Onto the championship game.
After watching Voss run through pool play the Blaze new they had to come up with a great defensive game to come up with a win. The Blaze did deliver a great defensive game but came up a few hits short of a championship. Loosing 7 - 2.
We would also like to congratulate the Lil' Blaze on their 12U championship, the B-Lazers and their 12U Runner up, along with 14U runner up finish.
With 4 Blaze teams in the tournament and 4 teams coming home with hardware thisweekend. I feel we have a GREAT start to the summer for BAC traveling slowpitch softball.