Virginia Heat wins tourney

Virginia Heat 12U girl’s softball team finished 9-1 on the way to the championship of the Memorial Day Fastpitch Softball Tournament held Memorial Day weekend in Chambersburg, Pa.

Two New Kent County residents, Stephanie Torrence and Marisa “MoMo” Bush, are team members.

The Heat beat Lake Shore Lighting from Maryland 7-6 in the title game. Forty-one teams from seven states participated in the three-day tournament.

The Heat lost their first pool play game to the Washington (Pa.) Wildfire but won their next five, earning a spot in the Gold Bracket Championship Round.

The first game in the championship round against the Bayshore (Md.) Blues (Maryland), the Heat weathered a four-run last inning rally to win 5-4.

In the quarterfinals, the Heat edged the Churchville (Md.) Lighting 4-3. In the semi-finals, Kristen Latham’s bases-loaded triple in the third extra inning helped produce a 10-6 win over Orion Hunter (Chesapeake, Va.).

The Heat led 7-6 with two away in the bottom of the seventh inning of the title game against Lake Shore, but the next two batters reached base. Left fielder Madison Venhuizen’s diving catch ended the game.

The winning pitcher in all four games of the championship round was Marisa “MoMo” Bush. She pitched 27 innings in four games, the last three played back to back.

The Heat consists of 12 girls from Hanover (4), Goochland (3), Henrico (2), New Kent (2), and Powhatan (1).

Team members are Candace Whittemore, Raleigh Harrison, Claire Guertler, Briana “Breezy” Woody, Madison and Morgan Venhuizen, Kiersten “Kiki” McCray,  Madison “Bug” Stone, Kristen Latham, Stephanie Torrence, Marisa “MoMo” Bush, and Hannah Tillery. The manager is Tommy Harrison and the coaches are Walter Venhuizen and Robert Whitemore.