By Rick Landrum

The Siskiyou Heat U-14 team traveled to Newberg Oregon, near Portland, last weekend to compete in the NAFA Tri-State Finals. There were 17 U-14 teams, which made for tough competition.

The Heat came out firing in the first game against the Lady Scots of Salem. Riva Martin took the mound and pitched excellently. She only allowed one hit and one walk going into the fourth inning. Tianna Cruz came in to shut the door in the fourth.

The Heat’s bats came alive in the game. Jenna Turner returned to the team in the lead off position, after a month vacation, and led all batters going 3/4. Lacie Landrum was solid with her glove and at the bat, going 2/4 and scoring twice. Tianna Cruz, Rachel Luetke, Katie Brummett and Krystal Palmer all had two hits. Viviana Castaneda and Morgan Deany added a hit in the win. Final score: Heat 13 – Lady Scots 2.

In the second game on Saturday, the Heat faced the Eugene Lighting. Riva Martin took the mound and sat the first eleven batters with great pitching, good catching from Emilie Wagy, and solid Heat defense. Martin pitched a complete game shutout game with five strikeouts, allowing only two hits. Martin also led the team with her bat going 2/2 with a double and a beautiful triple down the first base line. Katie Brummett was also 2/2 with a nice double. Jenna Turner and Baylee Harris each had hits in the win. Final score: Heat 7 Lighting 0.

The wins put the Heat in first place in their bracket for play on Sunday. They came out early to play against the Wise Cardinals. Krystal Palmer took the mound and had an outstanding game. She pitched a one hit shutout with four strikeouts and got the win in a very close game. The Heat came together as a team and played incredible defense to support Palmer. Key hits won the game for the Heat. Katie Brummett, Tianna Cruz, Krystal Palmer and Riva Martin each had hits for the Heat. Final score: Heat 3 – Cardinals 0.

The Heat played three games without allowing an earned run.

Sunday morning’s win set up a showdown with the also undefeated Hi Voltage team from Salem Oregon. Several fans felt these were the two best teams at the tournament. For the teams, it was winner goes on, and loser goes home.

Heat ace Riva Martin took the mound and Hi Voltage jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. The Hi Voltage pitcher retired nine of ten Heat batters in the first three innings. The only batter to reach base was Emilee Wagy with a walk. Martin, however, kept Hi Voltage from scoring for the next three innings.

The Heat’s bats woke up in the fourth with a line drive by Lacie Landrum, followed by hits by Katie Brummett and Tianna Cruz. The Heat was on the board, but still trailing 3-1. Martin held Hi Voltage in the fourth, and Krystal Palmer, Riva Martin and Morgan Deany all reached base with hits to start the fifth inning, making it bases loaded with no outs. Hi Voltage played the infield in and made a good play at the plate, to make it one out and bases loaded. Lacie Landrum then came up to the plate and hit a line drive up the middle, only to be robbed by Voltage’s diving shortstop, who made an outstanding play at second. The Heat scored another run and it was 3-2 Voltage going into the bottom of the fifth inning. Hi Voltage scored three times in the fifth with three hits and a wild pitch.  Rachel Luetke and Tianna Curz both started with hits in the sixth, ultimately scoring to make it Voltage 6 and Heat 4 when time was called.

“It was a tough loss, but our girls came together to play some of the best ball of the year because they played as a team. I’m very proud of the way our U-14 represented the Siskiyou Heat,” said Coach Brian Wagy.