By Nick Sinnott

This year’s Siskiyou Heat U-18 team is composed of returning players Bethany Franklin (pitcher/infielder) and Lizzy Stone (2nd base) from Yreka. From Weed we have Sierra Skeen, (shortstop/catcher) and Madison “Maddy” Moser (right field). From Etna, there’s Teal Rimmer (left field), and from Tulelake Michelle Rupert (third base/pitcher).

This year’s team also has a strong group of new players to the ASA program from Etna, including Jennifer Hanes (centerfield/catcher), Rhyan Smith (first base/outfield), Melissa Berry (first base/catcher), Rachel Lyons (outfield/pitcher). From Tulelake we have Alexandria “Lexi” Greenbank, (first base/outfield).

The U-18s have been developing with games on Wednesday evenings in Redding. Coaches Mike Jones and Nick Sinnott have been moving players around to find the best team combination.

The team spirit has been good and each player has responded well to the changes.

The Heat recently played in the Junction City, Ore. Cooper the Dog tournament with the other Siskiyou Heat age groups (U-10 and U-14). (more…)

After losing a pair of games on Saturday, the Siskiyou Heat U-14s battled their way through the Consolation bracket at the Western World Series in Newburg, Ore. on Sunday to bring home the consolation prize.

The Heat were down 5-3 against Vancouver, Washington Faith (different than the Faith team they played earlier in the tourney) going into the final inning, but scored three runs to win, 6-5. Audali Avila had the game-winning RBI, Amber Andrighetto scored the winning run. Lacie Landrum scored the tying run. Jeni Cheffey, who came on in relief for starting pitcher Riva Martin, notched the win.

Stats:
Leah McAdams 1/1
Lacie Landrum 2/3, 2 R
Kendall Moser 1/2, 2B, 1/2
Abby Hansen 1/2, R
Jasmin Bingham 1/2, R
Alex Peruzzi 1/2, R
Laura Ward 1/2
Audali Avila 1/3

The Heat started their march through the bracket with a thumping of the Staton Sparks, 9-0, on Sunday morning. The Heat rapped out 11 hits, and only allowed one Sparks base-runner to advance as far as third base.

Among the highlights was a “great catch” in deep center field, and throw to third base for a double play by Jasmin Bingham, according to Coach Rick Landrum.

Stats:
Chantel Fraser 2/3, 2 R
Leah McAdams 2/3, R
Lacie Landrum 2/4, 2 R
Kendall Moser 1/2, 2B, R, BB
Audali Avila 1/2, R
Jeni Cheffey 1/3, R
Jasmin Bingham 1/3
Alex Peruzzi 1/4, R
Riva Martin WP, 2 H

The Heat then nipped the Albany X-plosion, 6-5, with 2nd baseman Kendall Moser making a game ending over the shoulder catch.

Stats:
Jasmin Bingham 3/3, R
Audali Avila 2/2
Leah McAdams 2/2, 2R
Amber Andrighetto 2/2
Lacie Landrum 3/4, R
Laura Ward 1/1, HBP
Alex Peruzzi 2/3, R
Jeni Cheffey 1/2, R
Kendall Moser 1/3
Riva Martin WP, 3 K (more…)

The Siskiyou Heat U-18 girls ASA softball team beat Grants Pass, 4-3, and then smoked Excaliber, 9-1, today in Grants Pass.

Thanks to Michelle Rupert for the scores.

Story and photo by Bill Pieruccini

The Siskiyou Heat U10 team traveled to Redding on July 22 to meet the Chico Starz in a double header. The Heat lost both games, but not without pushing the Starz to bring in their best pitcher to put the games away.

The Heat’s bats again improved. Kacey Cain and Isabella Powers got their first competitive league hits joined by Lily Hitchcock and Quincie Cross to put pressure on the Starz.

After the game Heat Coach Sara Jones said, “I am proud of the girls. I give them credit for playing against older and more experienced girls and for playing with only eight players.” (more…)

Story and photos by Bill Pieruccini

Coach Sarah Jones led her U-10 Siskiyou Heat ASA team to Junction City, Ore. to play in the Cooper the Dog girls fast pitch softball tournament. The team fielded only eight players, but what they lacked in numbers and size they made up in heart.

The Heat played four games. Their first game was against the Grants Pass Sluggers and the Heat won 8 to 7. They then lost to the Canby Wildcats, Monmouth/Independence Storm and the Eugene Thunder. (more…)

All photos by Brenda Huston

The Siskiyou Heat ASA U-14 softball team brought home the Silver Bracket second place trophy from the Cooper the Dog Tournament in Junction City, Ore over the weekend.

The Heat opened the tournament with a loss to Central Oregon Voodoo, 10-2, on Saturday. They rebounded in their second game with a 7-5 win over the Coos Bay Sox. (more…)

U-14s

Sunday

The Heat U-14s are bringing home the Silver Bracket second place trophy from the Cooper the Dog Tournament in Junction City, Ore. The Heat played the Sparks in the championship game on Sunday afternoon, falling 10-3.
Stats: Alex Peruzzi 2/3, 2B (2); Chantel Frazier 1/2, R; Lacie Landrum 1/3, R; Courtney Huston BB, R

G-1 v Lincoln Hurricanes, won 9-5
Stats: Jazmin Bingham 3/3, 3B; Leah McAdams 2/4, 3B, 2 R; Lacie Landrum 2/4; Alex Peruzzi 2/4, R; Courtney Huston 1/2, 2 R; Laura Ward BB,  2 R; Riva Martin 2 sac. WP Kendall Moser, 9 K

Saturday

G-1 v Central Oregon Vodoo, lost 10-2
Stats: Lacie Landrum 1/1, BB, R; Courtney Huston 1/2

G-2 v Coos Bay Sox, won 7-5
Stats: Alex Peruzzi 2/2, HR; Leah McAdams 1/2, BB, R; Kendall Moser 1/2, BB, R; Riva Martin 1/3, 2B, 2 RBI, R; Lacie Landrum 1/3, 2 R; Courtney Huston 1/3, R. WP Riva Martin

Thanks to Rick Landrum for the info.

The U-18s lost their opener to Wild Thing, 4-0, but rebounded with a 9-8 win over Excalibur in their second game on Saturday.

The U-18s lost both games on Sunday–9-1 to the Coos Bay Sox and 7-5 to Wild Thing.

Thanks to Michelle Rupert for the scores.

(more…)

Article and photo submitted by Bill Pieruccini

The Siskiyou Heat ASA softball U-10 team girls  began their competitive softball careers on Wednesday in Redding–complete with 102 degree “Heat.”

The Heat played the Redding Rapids, U-10 “A” team with over 30 games behind them. While losing the game, the Heat never gave up against the more experienced team and hot weather. The pitching assignment was shared between Quincy Cross and Kacey Cain.

Autumn Giannini rapped out a hit in the first inning and later scored the Heat’s first run. Giannini later made an excellent catch in center field.

Earlier in the week, the team traveled to Central Point and played the Crater Comets, losing their first game 13-12. (more…)

Siskiyou County residents Sydney Cox, Ashley Cross, Kayla Spini, and Tori Weatherford are headed to the ASA Softball National Championships.

Cross and Cox play for the U-10 North Valley Rapids from Redding. Cross is the catcher and Cox plays shortstop. The Rapids placed second at The Nor Cal ASA Championships in Sunnyvale last weekend, qualifying them for the Nationals in Chattanooga, Tennessee and the Western Nationals in Medford, Oregon. The Rapids will be playing in the Western Nationals in August. (more…)

By Nicholas Sinnott

Local high school graduates and former Siskiyou Heat ASA softball players Sarah Jones, Kaitlin Weckerle, Kelsie Moser, and Amber Sinnott are having success playing at their respective college programs.

Jones is playing for Bethany University of the California Pacific Conference. Jones played third base and catcher for YHS and for the Heat. She has had to step in at the catcher spot for the Bruins and has done such a good job it could be her new position at the college level. Currently, Jones is batting .314 and is amongst the team leaders in RBI. Her fielding percentage is .889.

Weckerle, Moser, and Sinnott are playing for the Mendocino College Eagles, in the Bay Valley Conference. Weckerle is in her second year and has been the Eagles’ lead off hitter and center fielder for both years. She has continued to play great defense in center field like she did for YHS. Her speed on the bases is still a big part of her game, with 18 stolen bases on the year. She is batting .331 with 11 RBI. (more…)

The Siskiyou Heat Girls Softball Club will be holding signups on February 14 and 27 at Round Table Pizza in Yreka between 2:00 – 4:00 pm for its 2010 summer program. Currently the club has five teams ranging in age from 9 to 18. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Siskiyou Heat website www.siskiyouheat.com. (more…)

The Siskiyou Heat girls softball league will hold its annual board elections on Wednesday December 2, 2009 at the monthly meeting. The meeting is set for 6:30 pm at 1301 S Main Street (Old Gil’s Farm & Garden building) in Yreka. Anyone interested in being a board member or coaching for the 2010 season is invited to attend. If you have any questions regarding the league and the positions available, please contact league president Nick Sinnott at 842-2380. (more…)

MONTAGUE – The Siskiyou Heat ASA softball teams held their annual fundraising dinner and auction at the Montague Community center last Saturday. Approximately 300 people attended and nearly $8,000 was raised. The money is used to pay for equipment, travel, tournament fees, and other expenses for the various Heat teams.

After attendees enjoyed a tri tip dinner prepared by Joe Spini, there was a lively dessert auction and an auction for services and merchandise. A Berry Truffle made by Sandy Luetke fetched $140 during the dessert auction, and was purchased by Troy Graves. The two auctions accounted for about $4000 of the funds raised.

The Siskiyou Heat players and organizers expressed their gratitude to the community and their sponsors.

“Special thanks to Mt Shasta Resort, Timber Products, Pepsi Cola of Mt Shasta, Price Less Foods, The Tackle Shop and Brian and Heather Wagy for their generous donations. Also, a big appreciation to the community for their generous support of the Siskiyou Heat,” said Donna Cruz.

Mark your calendars for the fourth annual Siskiyou Heat girl’s youth American Softball Association (ASA) fund raising dinner at the Montague Hall on Saturday September 12. The Siskiyou Heat are made up of competitive girls softball teams (ages 8 -18) from all over Siskiyou County. They play games and tournaments in California, Oregon and Nevada. Due to the exposure the girls get at these away tournaments many have been awarded scholarships to play with college softball teams.

The funds raised will go to offset costs for equipment, uniforms, field maintenance, and tournament fees. At the present time the club is working with the City of Montague to improve “Scobie Field” as their own home field. (more…)

By Nick Sinnott

The Siskiyou Heat U-18s went South on the weekend of August 8-9 to compete in the highly touted Stockton Tournament. The game temperatures were in the high 90s but the Heat made it even hotter in Stockton with their aggressive play.

Saturday
Game-1: The first game of pool play for the Heat was against the Fremont Flyers.  Kayla Graves started the game and did a great job, going the distance. The game plan was to remove Graves after four innings but she had such control the coaching team of Mike Jones and Nick Sinnott decided to let her go the distance.  Graves finished the game with seven strikeouts.  Things opened up in the first when Amber “Nails” Sinnott drove in Kelsey “The Stick” Moser with a triple to deep center field.  Graves then settled in for the next two innings and struck out five of the next six Flyers.  In the bottom of the third Sara “Who” Jones smashed a double to right scoring “Nails” and “The Stick”, who each got on board with singles, adding two more runs for the Heat.  The Flyers managed an unearned run in the top of the fourth making it 3-1 after four innings.  In the bottom of the fifth, things got a little wild for the Heat.  Michelle Rupert started with a single to right field. Sinnott then singled to left to advance Rupert to third. Jones grounded to short who fumbled the ball allowing Rupert and Sinnott to score.  Samantha “Sammy” Reed got on board with an interference call on the catcher. Mindy “Mindo” Chandler drove a hit to deep center scoring two runs and Rupert followed with her own 2-run double to complete the inning with seven runs scored. The game was called due to tournament rules. Final score: Heat 10 – Flyers 1 (more…)

In addition to taking third place at the “Nationals” tournament in Aurora,Ore a couple of weeks ago, the Siskiyou Heat U-18s also placed four members on the “All World” tournament team. Amber “Nails” Sinnott, Sara “Who” Jones, Sierra “C” Skeen, and Bethany “Ever Ready” Franklin earned the “All World” designation.

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By Nick Sinnott

The Siskiyou Heat U-18s were north of the border again, July 24-26. This time it was in Aurora, Oregon for the “National’s.” They proved again that they are “battlers” by coming out of the losers’ bracket and winning consecutive games to take third place.

Friday
Game-1: The first game of pool play for the Heat was the East County “Thunder” from Oregon. The Heat scored two runs in the first when both Bethany Franklin and Sarah “Who” Jones went home on passed balls. Franklin started as the ever steady pitcher and did a good job. It got quiet on the scoring for the Heat, but the Thunder tallied four runs to take a quick lead. Thunder loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but Madison “Maddi” Moser came up with some great heads-up play in right field to throw out two base runners to end the inning. In the sixth Amber “Nails” Sinnott pounded a two run double to make the score 4-4. Mindi Chandler came in to pitch in the sixth. The Thunder came back to get three more runs to end the game. Final score: Thunder 7 – Heat 4 (more…)