The GVGSA 12U Goleta Storm went undefeated on their way to a Lindsay Rose Memorial Tournament Silver Division championship on Sunday in Goleta.
The Storm rattled off four straight wins to earn the home tournament title, improving their summer-long record to 33-6. The team has played nine tournaments, winning five and reaching the championship game in eight of them.
“Our families and friends have been incredible all summer,” Goleta manager Chris Anderson said. “They packed the stands and filled every open space. There was a sea of people who were loud and supportive, and our girls fed off that energy.”
After two wins in pool play, the Storm found themselves trailing 4-3 heading into the final inning of the semifinals. Nyny Garcia came through with a game-tying RBI single to score Ava Rodriguez.
Garcia made her way all the way to third base on the throw home, setting the stage for Harper Read to lift a walk-off RBI sacrifice fly to punch Goleta’s ticket into the tournament championship.
The title game was just as exciting, with the two sides knotted up at 6-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning thanks in part to a scoreless top half by Malaya Guilliams.
In the bottom of the seventh, Garcia singled and was pinch run for by Gianna Bautista. Read then came up in the clutch and delivered once again, belting a walk-off double to give the Storm the tournament championship.
“Winning our home tournament, especially in this fashion, is something we’ll all remember forever,” Anderson said. “These kids never give up. They take each game one inning at a time. If they have a bad inning, they flush it and move on to the next. It’s a level of maturity you don’t typically see at this age.
“We had some huge hits in key moments that ultimately gave us two big wins, but those moments don’t happen without everyone contributing. We had big performances from every player. Defensively, we were outstanding. The girls communicated extremely well and, more than a few times, put their bodies on the line for the team. They truly want the best for each other, and they show it every day.”
Goleta will round out its summer at the California State Games in San Diego, competing in the Tournament of Champions Division beginning on Thursday.
The 12U Storm team consists of Ava Rodriguez, Ella Anderson, Giana Bautista, Gianna Brunner, Hailey Bravo, Harper Read, Juju Jimenez, Makaela Muhr, Malaya Guilliams, Mia Tarka, Nyny Garcia and Ricci Ruiz.
The team is coached by Chris Anderson, Matt Guilliams, Jon Ramsdell, Erika Rodriguez, Beau Brunner and Javier Read.
