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Heatwave Win National Title

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 20, 2008

The letter arrived to Coach Sonny LeBlanc at the beginning of summer, inviting his Tampa Heatwave softball team to participate in the World Fastpitch Connection World Series in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
LeBlanc and his under-14 team took full advantage, as it swept through the elimination bracket undefeated and won the championship with a 2-1 victory against Ohio Wave.

Alyssia Bastin drove in both runs for the Heatwave in the championship game, while pitchers Jessica Rosanski and Regan Knotts combined to hold the Wave's bats in check.

For LeBlanc, the second title in the program's 20-year history was overwhelming.

"Words can't explain it, it was just unbelievable," LeBlanc said. "I knew I had a great team, but you never know."

Once bracket play began, the team hit its stride. LeBlanc pointed to the communication of Rosanski, Knotts and third pitcher Barb Pfrug and catchers Kwanza Gannon and C.C. Rock as a key to the team's success.

"Sometimes I even let them call the pitches," LeBlanc said.

After winning its opening game in the bracket, the Heatwave needed three runs in the seventh inning to the beat No. 1 seed Carolina Starz, 8-5.

Gannon and Megan Tice led the team at the plate with two home runs each during bracket play, but the team also benefited from strong defensive play. Third baseman Shelby Mathews and center fielder Megan Borak both made key plays and left fielder Bastin made a game-saving catch in the final that kept the score 2-1 when Ohio was threatening.
LeBlanc said the team was hoping it could stay together and continue to develop next year in the under-16 division, with an eye on reaching the American Softball Association World Series further down the line. As for now, the team is still trying to let the idea they're champions sink in.

"I don't even think it's sunk in yet, that we've won the World Series," LeBlanc said. "This is something they'll remember the rest of their lives."

Tampa RBI Thrilled Despite Final Loss

While the Tampa RBI program junior baseball team couldn't find a way to edge out Detroit in the final of the RBI World Series, the experience in California is one it won't soon forget.

"It was awesome," Manager Chris Chism Sr. said of the tournament. The championship game was held at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. "These guys got goose bumps as soon as they got out there. Warming up, getting to take infield on a major league field, you just can't say enough about it.

"The whole experience was fabulous."

Detroit was the only team to defeat Tampa, which is based out of Skyway Little League, winning 12-7 in the opening game before a 7-3 win in the championship. Tampa rebounded from its opening loss, however, and did so mainly at the plate.

Josciel Veras led the team with a .526 average (10-for-19), and added eight RBIs and seven runs scored. He was backed by Javaris Reynolds (.444 average, seven RBIs) and Dylan Gross (.333, seven runs) as the team hit .312 for the tournament.

Chism Sr. said he expected all the players, most of whom played in high school last year, will grow from the experience. One game he pointed to was their semifinal with against Santo Domingo, as Tampa scored three runs in the seventh inning to break a tie to advance to the final.

"We showed a lot of strength playing Santo Domingo," Chism Sr. said. "That was a much better team than we were, and of all the games that was the best highlight for us."

Palma Ceia, Citrus Park Softball Edged Out

After putting itself in prime position to move onto the semifinals of the Junior League Softball World Series, Palma Ceia Little League fell short. It lost its first game of the All-Star season last Wednesday, and its second the following day.

But despite their hopes of a championship being dashed, Manager Kevin Franklin said the team was thankful of the experience they had in Kirkland, Wash.

"These girls took it hard initially," Franklin said. "But after the game I let each of them speak and they are so happy that they made it to where they made it."

Kirkland added that while it was disappointing for the team to fall short in the manner it did, he couldn't have been prouder of what they'd accomplished.

"We talked about it with the players afterwards," Franklin said. "I told the girls, 'You guys had a magical run, and to make it to the World Series is something you will be able to talk about for the rest of your lives.' It doesn't diminish what we've accomplished up to this time, and they know that."

Citrus Park also had its chance to move into the semifinals of the Big League Softball World Series, but as with Palma Ceia, a loss in its final pool game, 1-0 to Palmdale, Calif., sent it on its way.

"The girls will need a bit of time to recover, it was very frustrating," Citrus Park manager Al Bowman said. "We really thought we were the better team."

This was the last go-around for Citrus Park's team, four of whom won the Senior League World Series in 2005. According to Bowman, the team went into this season with that in mind.

"It took some convincing for them to come back this year," he said. "I don't believe at this point anyone is thinking about next year."

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243 or at nmurray@tampatrib.com

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