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).

Heat 0 – Wild Things 4

Game one on Saturday was against the Wild Things from Klamath Falls. It was a defensive battle for the first four innings with Skeen throwing out base runners from the catching position, Moser making some great catches in right field, and Franklin recording five strike outs, but the Heat couldn’t get their bats going. The Wild Things scored two runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth.

Heat 9 – North Valley 8

Game two was different for the Heat. The Heat broke out the bats early for this one. Hanes bunted her way on and Stone followed with an RBI single. Berry scored Stone on a fielder’s choice for an early 2-1 lead. After three innings it was North Valley 6, Heat 4. The Heat brought out the bats again in the fifth inning. Back to back singles by Hanes and Stone set up Berry for a 2-run RBI triple. Skeen, Rupert and Smith then loaded the based for Lyons to slam a 3-run double. Franklin recorded six strike outs.

Heat 1 Coos Bay SOCs 9

The first game Sunday morning was against a hard hitting Coos Bay team. The SOCs jumped out to an early 1-run lead in the first inning and added four more runs in the second. The lone run for the Heat came in the fourth when Moser bunted on and advanced with a stolen base and scored on a fielding error.

Heat 5 – Wild Things 10
The last game on Sunday was a re-match with the opponent of game one. The Wild Things scored five runs in the first inning and five more in the third. The Heat battled back with a 2-out rally in the third inning scoring four runs on two hits with Franklin pounding a 2-run double to deep center.

On Saturday, July 24 the Heat traveled to Grants Pass, Ore. for a double header with North Valley and Grants Pass teams.

Heat 4 – Grants Pass 3

Grants Pass jumped to a 2-run lead in the first inning. The Heat answered with two runs in the top of the second. Sarah “Who” Jones came out of retirement to fill out the roster for the day. Jones lead off with a triple to deep center. Rupert then doubled to score Jones.

It was a defensive battle for the following three innings with the Heat playing sound, error free defense. Grants Pass scored one run in the sixth inning. Rupert then made a great diving catch of a line drive at third to end the sixth.

The Heat followed with one run in the bottom of the sixth to set up the International Tie Breaker with both teams starting the inning with runners at second base with no outs. Neither team could score in the first tie-break inning.

In the second inning of the tie breaker Jones singled to center, to score Rimmer from second. The Heat held Grants Pass scoreless in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Also stepping up to help fill out the day’s roster was young Kendra Rupert, sister of Michelle Rupert from Tulelake. Rupert played solid second base for the Heat assisting in several put outs at first and second. She also hit the ball well.

Heat 9 – North Valley 1

In the second game of the day it was all Siskiyou Heat. The Heat scored two runs in the second inning. Jones lead off with a single and Rupert followed with a single. Smith then bunted both runners over and Lyons singled to score two runs. In the third inning, the Heat scored six more runs when the entire batting order came to the plate. At the end of three innings it was 8-0.

Next up for the Siskiyou Heat U-18s is the 2010 NAFA World Series in Newburg, Oregon this coming weekend (July 30 thru August 1).