YOUTH SOFTBALL (18U): VALLEY STORM FINISHES IN TOP FOUR AT FIREWORKS & FASTBALLS TOURNAMENT (22 PHOTOS) (2020-07-12)

Valley Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT "” The Valley Storm 18U travel softball team went 3-2 and finished in the top four at the Fireworks & Fastballs Tournament here at Elm Park over the Fourth of July weekend.

The Storm started out with a big loss in pool play to the Allentown-based Phantoms, but bounced back with wins over the Binghamton-based Lightning FastPitch Elite, and the Owego-based Eyota Nation to finish pool play.

In the quarterfinals, the Storm pounded out a win over the central-Pa. Firestorm, before succumbing to the Rochester/Buffalo-based Smash It Sports in the semifinals.

POOL PLAY
Phantoms 18, Storm 5
The Storm committed three errors, but they led to 12 unearned runs in an 18-5 three-inning loss to the Phantoms in the opening game of pool play Saturday morning.

Elmira's Shelby Smith tripled and singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, while Athens' Megan Bennett tripled and singled and scored two runs, and Waverly's Aubrey Ennis singled and collected four RBI to account for the Storm's five hits in the loss. Edison's Reagan Seelye scored a run.

Storm 20,  Lightning FastPitch Elite 0
The Storm pounded out 17 hits, and Seelye tossed a two-hitter in a 20-0 three-inning win over LFP in the second game of pool play Saturday morning.

Seelye struck out four and walked none in the three-inning complete-game performance.

The Storm opened the game with six runs in the top of the first inning, then put the game away with 12 runs in the second inning.

North Rome's Emma Repsher was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, and Horseheads' Lexi Wahl-Knowlden was 3-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI to pace the offensive barrage, while Shelby Smith was 2-for-2 with a triple, three runs scored and three RBI, and Towanda's Maddie Maynard was 2-for-2 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI.

Waverly's Hali Jenner was also 2-for-2 with one run scored and one run driven in, while Ennis singled twice and scored two runs, Elk Lake's Jenna Newhart doubled, scored three runs, and had two RBI, Bennett singled, scored three runs, and drove in one run, and Seelye singled, scored two runs, and knocked in one run.

Storm 6, Eyota Nation 4
The Storm only managed two hits, but both came in a fourth-inning rally that lifted them to a 6-4 win over local rival Eyota Nation in the final game of pool play Saturday afternoon.

Eyota Nation took the lead with a run in the home half of the first inning, but the Storm took advantage of three base on balls, an error and a passed ball to plate two runs in the top of the second.

Athens' Mimi Martin sparked a three-run Eyota Nation rally in the third inning with a lead-off single.

Trailing 4-2, Ennis, Repsher and Athens' Harley Sullivan worked one-out walks in the top of the fourth, setting the stage for a three-RBI double by Newhart to give the Storm a 5-4 lead.

Maynard followed with a line-drive single up the middle to plate Newhart for a 6-4 lead.

Maynard, who pitched a four-inning complete-game, gave up a lead-off single, and a one-out walk to put the tying runs on base, but retired the last two batters to lock down the win.

Maynard allowed four earned runs on six hits, while striking out five and walking five to earn the win.

Newhart doubled, scored two runs, and had three RBI and Maynard singled and knocked in a run to provide the Storm's only two hits. Repsher scored a pair of runs, and Ennis and Sullivan each crossed the plate once.

Martin singled and scored two runs for Eyota Nation.

BRACKET PLAY
Quarterfinals
Storm 8, Firestorm 2
The Storm jumped out to a 6-0 lead en route to an 8-2 win over the Firestorm Sunday morning int he quarterfinals of bracket play.

Maynard delivered the first run of the game in the top of the second inning with a line-drive triple to right field, and - following a walk to Wahl-Knowlden - scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

With Wahl-Knowlden on third after a stolen base, Bennett plated her with a bunt single to make it 3-0. Bennett later scored on an error to make it 4-0.

The Storm added two runs in each of the third and fourth innings to pull away for the win.

Seelye earned the win, allowing a pair of unearned runs on three hits, while striking out four and walking one in five innings of work.

Repsher singled twice, scored one run, and drove in one run to pace the Storm at the plate, while Bennett singled, scored twice, and knocked in one run, Maynard doubled, scored one run, and drove in one run, and Sullivan singled and scored a pair of runs.

Newhart added a single and an RBI, and Smith singled in the win, while Wahl-Knowlden scored one run and drove in one run, and Ennis crossed the plate once.
Smash It Sports 5, Storm 0
St. Bonaventure-Bound Emily Phelan tossed a two-hitter to lead Smash It Sports to a 5-0 win over the Storm in the semifinals Saturday morning.

Phelan struck out 13 and walked one in a seven-inning, complete-game effort.

Sullivan and Smith both singled to account for the Storm's only two hits.

Bennett was tagged with the loss. She allowed five unearned runs - all in the second inning - on five hits, while striking out five and walking none in six innings of work.