TRAVERSE TEAMS TAKE TITLES!!!
The Future is bright, it appears, for Traverse City area softball. The 2020 Futures Challenge was a rousing success, with players and fans bringing spirited excitement to the softball fields at the Civic Center. And in the end, Traverse City-based teams were crowned as champions in all three age divisions.
In the 14U group, the Traverse City Waves Tsunami was very impressive in posting a 5-0 record en route to the tournament title. Coach Sean Liles team put on a hitting show to defeat 231 Fusion Fastpitch, 12-1, in the tournament final. The game was the first ever played under the lights in a TC tournament....more night games to come next summer? Stay tuned...Great job, ladies!
In the 10U and 12U divisions, it was 231 Fusion hoisting the championship trophy and sporting the championship bling. Levi Griffore's 10U squad avenged an earlier pool play loss to the Saginaw Bay Lady RiverDawgs by capturing the title game, 8-5. Juli Tiesworth's and Steve Steimel's 12U troops edged Matt Geoghan's Michigan Sabercats, 5-4, in a terrific final game. Congratulations, all!
Thanks to all of the parents, grandparents, fans and players that made the Futures Challenge a fun Sunday in Traverse City! We hope to see you next year!
FUTURES CHALLENGE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Take a gander at this! It's the players that played particularly well during the tournament, and they make up the All-Tournament Team (Coaches: Send your nominations to JSBrunner777@yahoo.com).
10U Division
Adalyn Griffore - 231 Fusion
Eden Kitzmiller - 231 Fusion
Emily Vandergriff - 231 Fusion
Reese Williams - 231 Fusion
Emily Breza - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs
Kaitlyn Osborn - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs
Brynlee McIntyre - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs
Khloe Courtade - Michigan Sabercats
Aryssa St. Amour - Michigan Sabercats
12U Division
Madilyn Depew - TC Thunder
Brooklyn Fischer - TC Thunder
Avery Pagel - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs
Keeley Peace - Saginaw Bay RiverDawgs
Anika Peterson - 231 Fusion
Delaney Witkop - 231 Fusion
Aubrey Weiland - 231 Fusion
Mara Williams - 231 Fusion
14U Division
Jaycie Gasper - Michigan Thunder
Jozy Mathis - Michigan Thunder
Amelia Kempf - TC Thunder
Ella Newman - TC Thunder
Jordan LaFleur - TC Thunder
Ella Kosanke - Cheboygan Chaos
Amelia Johnson - Cheboygan Chaos
Libby Van Fleet - 231 Fusion
Grace Lewis - 231 Fusion
Ella Schramm - 231 Fusion
Grace Carey - 231 Fusion
2019 Futures Challenge recap
Sabercats, Fusion and Waves, Oh My!
2019 Futures Challenge All-Tournament Team
Sabercats, Fusion and Waves, Oh My!
Well, THAT was a lot of fun!
The fields at the Civic Center--after they were cleared of water by the hard-working tournament crew and some welcomed helpers--were filled with cheering, team chants, solid play and the excitement of a new softball year starting for the teams that participated in the 2019 Futures Challenge.
At the end of the da
Well, THAT was a lot of fun!
The fields at the Civic Center--after they were cleared of water by the hard-working tournament crew and some welcomed helpers--were filled with cheering, team chants, solid play and the excitement of a new softball year starting for the teams that participated in the 2019 Futures Challenge.
At the end of the day, three teams were crowned as champions: The Michigan Sabercats (10U division), 231 Fusion Fastpitch - Steimel (12U division) and Traverse City Waves - Shepherd (14U division).
In the 10U group, Bryan Morrissey's impressive squad rolled through the competition, their efforts culminating in a 13-1 victory over the 231 Fusion in the championship game. Great job!
In the 12U division, the Fusion edged a tough-as-nails Expos team, 6-5, to win the tournament title. The Fusion's victory was punctuated by an over-the-fence home run by Grace Cary. Paul Kunitzer's Expos team played five--FIVE!--games back-to-back, seemingly getting stronger each game.
In the 14U group, Doug Shepherd's Traverse City Waves overcame the Michigan Rebels, 13-3, to capture the Futures title trophy. The 14U division was hotly contested and featured excellent play by all teams. Way to go, ladies!
We hope everyone enjoyed the day in Traverse City!
2019 Futures Challenge All-Tournament Team
Sabercats, Fusion and Waves, Oh My!
2019 Futures Challenge All-Tournament Team
2019 Futures Challenge All-Tournament Team
2019 Futures Challenge All-Tournament Team
10U Division
Sarah Gaylord - TC Waves
Braylynn Peterson - TC Waves
Adalyn Griffore - 231 Fusion
Sydney Fleming - 231 Fusion
Jillian Moazeni - 231 Fusion
Madisyn Fales - 231 Fusion
Kamryn Clark - Michigan Sabercats
Hayley Southard - Michigan Sabercats
Kelcey Osborne - Michigan Sabercats
Linzie Denhof - Michigan Sabercats
12U Division
Grace Cary - 231
10U Division
Sarah Gaylord - TC Waves
Braylynn Peterson - TC Waves
Adalyn Griffore - 231 Fusion
Sydney Fleming - 231 Fusion
Jillian Moazeni - 231 Fusion
Madisyn Fales - 231 Fusion
Kamryn Clark - Michigan Sabercats
Hayley Southard - Michigan Sabercats
Kelcey Osborne - Michigan Sabercats
Linzie Denhof - Michigan Sabercats
12U Division
Grace Cary - 231 Fusion Steimel
Kayla Milarch - 231 Fusion Steimel
Nora Bethuy - 231 Fusion Steimel
Hailey Hart - 231 Fusion Steimel
Sarah Wooer - TC Thunder
Claire Hurley - TC Thunder
Ella Wilson - Michigan Expos
Allyson Duncan - Michigan Expos
Kylynn Thompson - Michigan Expos
Miyesha Baumgardner - Michigan Expos
Ashlyn Cummings - TC Waves
Anna Tabaczka - TC Waves
14U Division
Kelsey Quiggin - TC Thunder Hawkins
Caitlin Butzin - TC Thunder Hawkins
Allie Hawkins - TC Thunder Hawkins
Elayna Benaway - TC Thunder Hawkins
Zoey Jetter - TC Waves Liles
Audrey Williams - TC Waves Liles
Taylor Noble - TC Waves Liles
Quinn Boyle - TC Waves Liles
Hannah Grahn - TC Waves Shepherd
Brooke Smith - TC Waves Shepherd
Maggie Napont - TC Waves Shepherd
Rylea Beamish - TC Waves Shepherd
(Coaches: Please send your nominations to JSBrunner777@yahoo.com if you'd like to recognize some of your players for their performance in the tournament)