The Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association hosted its annual Lindsay Rose Memorial Tournament over Memorial Day Weekend, and the hometown GVGSA 14U, 10U, and 8U teams all placed first.
Over the course of two days, more than 300 players across 24 teams, ages 6 to 15, battled it out on the softball field at Dos Pueblos High School.
In the 14U division, the GVGSA’s 14U Thunder defeated Orcutt 9-1 in the final, following an exhilarating walk-off victory over the Santa Maria Inferno in the semifinal.
Facing deficits of 3-0 and 5-3, the Thunder showcased their resilience in the semifinal as Lucy Dessert hit a 2-run single while trailing by two to secure the victory. She finished the tournament with 11 RBIs across four games.
In the circle for the Thunder, hurler Vereniki Maniadi collected both wins on Sunday while allowing only two earned runs.
“The mark of a great team is how they prepare for competition and deal with adversity,” 14U Thunder head coach Jon Dessert said. “At no time while the team was trailing in the semi did they ever believe they were going to lose. They battled until the very end. I’m a lucky coach to have this group and coaching staff. Looking forward to many more tournaments ahead this summer!”
Members of 14U Thunder include: Abby Simonsen, Laila Hernandez, Zoe Avila, Lucy Dessert, Dulce Cardona, Jaia Guilliams, Isa Malarkey, Chaya Blaney, Juliet Wirtes, Reese Large, Vereniki Maniadi, Sarah Fellers, and Sophie Benes. The team’s coaches include Jon Dessert, Trevor Large, Becky Abbott, Grace Lenthe.
The GVGSA 10U Storm also came out triumphant. The 10U Storm and Thunder teams battled throughout the seven-inning championship game. The Storm ultimately won 5-4.
The team’s success was the result of a complete team effort, with each player contributing significantly to the win. From crucial defensive plays to aggressive base running, as well as a stellar pitcher and catcher dynamic, Storm defeated the formidable Thunder team.
Members of 10U Storm include: Maddie Anderson, Charlie Andre, Addy Baltadano, Savannah Esparza, Lele Flores, Talia Gil, Lily Gray, Summer Hayes, Kayla Hollowell, Charley Magana, Isla Ramirez, Olivia Roth, Mila Zavala. The team’s coaches include Veronica Flores, Gerardo Gil, Joe Hayes, Steve Ramirez, Diegas Zavala.
In the 8U division, the GVGSA 8U Thunder secured their first championship on their home turf.
Despite going 0-2 on Saturday, the girls made a strong comeback on Sunday, winning two games to earn a spot in the afternoon championship. The championship round against Lompoc Vengeance was a pitcher’s duel from the beginning.
The score remained tied at 0-0 after three innings. In the fourth inning, Thunder went up 1-0 when Brooklyn Rifkin singled, bringing in Giana Brunner for one of the few hits in the game.
As the game reached its time limit, the teams entered the international tie breaker, with both teams starting with a runner placed on second base. The Thunder’s Makena Munoz walked in Josie Lowe to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Closing pitcher Malaya Guilliams struck out the side in 13 pitches, securing the win.
Coach Bill Stout lauded the entire team, especially pitchers Kaliyah Sutherland and Malaya Guilliams, stating “those girls combined for a really fantastic game. Kaliyah gave us a really strong three and two-thirds and then Malaya, who pitched a complete game shutout in the semis, came in and closed it out. They were both so strong under pressure.”
Winning the championship in their first all-star tournament of the summer marks an excellent start for Goleta Thunder. The 8U team will be participating in their next tournament in two weeks, where they will likely face Lompoc once again.
Members of 8U Thunder include: Josie Lowe, Brooklyn Rifkin, Malia Munoz, Emma Grossman, Kaliyah Sutherland, Maeve Garwood, Giana Brunner, Farrah Weiss, Hailey Bravo, Erin Flanagan, and Makena Munoz. The team’s coaches include Jason Sutherland, Matt Guilliams, Sam Rifkin, and Head Coach Bill Stout.