Delta's elite girls fastpitch organization has turned up the Heat in a big way this summer.
The rep "A" program, that is co-hosted by the North Delta and South Delta fastpitch associations, has captured a pair of national championships and amazingly had two teams in the U18 title game.
The U18 Canadian Championships in Saskatoon last weekend featured 22 entries from eight different provinces. The last two clubs standing were the '96 and '97 Delta Heat.
The '96 Heat jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held off their younger counterparts for an entertaining 7-5 victory to cap a perfect run at the championships.
Pitcher Marley Pitcher was awarded the playoff MVP. Outfielder Taylor Gillis was named to the all-star team. The '97 squad also walked away with plenty of hardware, including pitcher Desirae Villanueva earning the
MVP award for preliminary play.
She had an era of 0.30 and also dominated at the plate with .455 batting average. Catcher Maria Palmegiana and outfielder Sierra Sherritt were named tournament all-stars.
Hits by Kennedy Bailey and Gillis gave the '96s the early lead in the final. The 97s countered in the top of the fourth with its first run and pulled within one (5-4) in the fifth. The '96s got a key tworun triple from Siara Couper, then held off the 97s in the seventh with the tying runs aboard.
The '96s' path the the final included an impressive 9-0 mercyrule romp of provincial champion and arch rival White Rock Renegades. Parker was superb in the pitching circle, allowing just two hits, while her teammates lashed out 13. A five-run second inning sparked the big win. Holly Speers had a key two-run double and later added a triple to finish
with four RBIs. Outfielder Paige Harbord had three hits.
The '97s stayed perfect with a hard-fought 4-3 extra inning win over the Brampton Blazers.
That set the stage for the first clash between the Delta teams with the 96s earning a spot in the championship game with an 8-1 semi-final win. The offence included a lead-off home run in the second inning by catcher Lexie Brenneis. It was the start off a five run outburst.
The '97s got to the final with a 4-2 win over the Renegades. Villanueva allowed just three hits while Lauren Watson went 4-for-4 at the plate. Palmegiana added three hits.
Coached by Gord Collings and assistants Bob Houtman and Paige Collings, the '96 Heat roster also featured Carolyn Thoveson, Sammy Pearson, Kennedy Bailey, Kaitlin Fraser, Taylor Lundrigan, Montana Turnovitski, Alex Cook
and Meghan Malowich.
The '97 squad also includes: Laura Baldry, Jordan Britten-Young, Kendro Ho, Tia Lore, Michaela Moore, Raelyn Radovich, Paige Taylor, Janey Thomas, Daniella Vilio and Taylor Woodward. The team is coached by Steve Couper with assistants Ken Ho and Katelyn Jackson.
Meanwhile, at Softball City in South Surrey, the 2001 Delta Heat captured the U14 national title - capping an eight game unbeaten run with an 8-1 win over Ontario's Palmerston Marlins in the final.
The team includes: Rachel Schultz, Aymee Godmaire, Amy de Ste Croix, Dannica Desgroseilliers, Megan Hendrickson, Hanna Hansen, Jenaya Basi, Jessie Weststrate, Stephanie Schina, Olivia Malesku and Mackenzie Last. The girls are coached by Scott Hendrickson, Neil Malesku, Doug Harris and Katie Harris.
