Submitted photo
Led by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Player of the Year Kristen Wood, the Wisconsin Lightning 18U Black softball team took seventh place out of 104 teams in the 18U USA/ASA “A†Nationals in Normal, Illinois.
The Lightning won their pool by defeating Velocity, CA 4-1 and the Lemont Rockers JJ, IL 1-0. They advanced on to the bracket play where they beat the Middle Georgia Shockers 2-0, Team Force Arizona 4-3, and Lake County Liberty, IL 1-0. That set up a rematch with the Kenosha Cyclones who had beaten the Lightning in the Wisconsin State ASA semifinals 2-1 in extra innings. This time the Lightning prevailed by that same score, 2-1 in extra innings to advance to the final 12.
The Lightning suffered their first loss of the tournament to the South Florida Mini Bulls by the score of 6-4. They then bounced back against Triangle Lightning, NC beating them 9-4.
The tournament ended for the Lightning at the hands of the Vipers Gen X, AL by the score of 8-0.
Playing for the Wisconsin Lightning 18U Black was: Staci Roscizewski, Emily McClelland, Hayden Krueger, Randi Rederer, Kelsey Saucerman, Kristen Wood, Sarah Fonk, Bailie Sheahan, Alex Kies, Alicia Barbian, and Alexis Hermes. They were managed by Scott Hermes. The coaches were Mike Kies and Jeff Saucerman.
