Delta 2001 Heat have reached the national podium for the second straight season, this time as a first-year team at the U19 level.
The rep “A” girls’ fastpitch team capped a memorable week at Softball City in South Surrey by earning a bronze medal at the Canadian Championships. The feat came a year after the Heat captured the U16 national title on home soil. Typically, teams would have to bide their time moving up to an older level, especially a three-year division, however, this talented squad proved otherwise.
Delta earned a berth in the championship round by going 6-1-0 in preliminary play. It was then a steady diet of Ontario teams and a thrilling win over a B.C. rival to secure a medal.
The Heat began the playoffs as the No. 4 seed and opened against the powerhouse Waterloo Ghosts. The Ontario champions handed them an 8-1 loss a day earlier to close out round-robin play and this time produced a 5-1 victory on their way to capturing gold with a perfect 10-0-0 record.
Delta was now in must-win mode in the double knockout format.
It set the stage for a thrilling walk-off hit by Veronica Sawatzky in a 10-9 victory over the White Rock 1999 Renegades on Saturday afternoon. The wild affair saw White Rock score six times in the third inning to take a 9-1 lead before the Heat came storming back, highlighted by six of their own in the fourth inning.
Delta then secured a bronze medal with another nail-biter, this time a 5-4 win over the Oakville Angels on Sunday morning. The difference was the Heat scoring in the top of the seventh to break a 4-4 deadlock.
The Heat returned to the field immediately to face the rested Windsor Wildcats with a berth in the final against Waterloo on the line.
The Ontario silver medalists broke a tight game open with three runs in the sixth. Delta managed one in the top of the seventh but would get no closer.
Earlier in round-robin play, Delta rolled to six straight victories to open the tournament against Lloydminster Liners (14-4), Estevan Slammers (10-0), Fraser Valley 2001 Fusion (5-4), Fraser Valley 2000 Fusion (8-1), Edmonton Warriors (10-0) and Manitoba Thunder (14-2).
Kianna Jones led the potent offence with four home runs, 11 RBI and a .469 average. Emily Horne added a pair of homers, nine RBI and a .476 average. Hanna Hansen also had two home runs, while Aymee Godmaire had a solo blast. Gabrielle finished with a sizzling .548 average and seven RBI. Megan Hendrickson hit .351 with 13 runs scored. Jessie Weststrate hit .345.
Other key contributors were Autaum Hilyer, Olivia Malesku, Rawnie Weststrate and Stephanie Schina.
In the pitching circle, Rawnie went 4-0 with 30 strikeouts and a 1.81 era. Jones and Hendrickson also picked up wins.
