Surf ‘N Softball ends on high note

A historic season for the Huntington Beach Girls’ Softball

12-and-Under All-Star team, Surf ‘N Softball, concluded its 2003

season with a top 15 finish at the Western National Championships

tournament.

More than 50 teams from throughout the country competed at the

event held at Roseville, Calif. and marked by inconsistent weather.

The temperature on the opening day of play hit 113 degrees. Surf ‘N Softball not only needed to overcome the heat, but a 4-0 deficit

to pull out a 6-5 victory over the Bullhead City Express.

There was no nail-biting antics in their next two games, as

outstanding pitching and timely hitting paved the way in an 11-0 rout

of Woodland, Calif. and a 10-2 romp past the San Jose Twisters.

At 3-0 in winner’s bracket play, Surf ‘N Softball next met one of

Central California’s top teams, the Visalia Spirits. In the end,

Visalia came out on top of an 8-2 score.

Facing elimination in the double-elimination event, Surf ‘N

Softball rebounded from its initial defeat by posting a 13-4 victory

over the Golden Gloves of Eugene, Oregon.

The game was played in a cold drizzle with 64-degree temperatures.

It featured a grand slam home run by Amy Nunez and home run by Mariah

Nogueira.

Later that same day, as temperatures rose to 104 degrees, Surf ‘N

Softball saw its tournament run and season come to an end in a 5-2

loss to eventual finalist East County of Santee, Ca.

Surf ‘N Softball finished postseason play with an overall record

of 30-7 and ended the 2003 campaign as the most successful

12-and-Under All-Star team in league history.

Surf ‘N Softball’s roster is Kalyn Carpenter, Kellie Cuadras,

Taryn Devich, Brook Hitchcock, Alex Lorfino, Taysia Kaufman, Kendall

Kraiss, Cristina Kuehn, Kristin Mendez, Jenny Pilecki, Rebecca Sass,

Erica Congelliere and coaches Herb Cuadras and Rudy Sass.