Pictured is the Hamilton Hurricanes 12U Blue All-Star team. Front: Gracie Gaskill, Maddie Zeleznik, Nicole Cerasi, Sophie DeFrank, Alex Haley and Christina Weil. Middle: Delaney Misier, Kaylee Whittaker, Natalie Kozemchak, Gabbie Fonollosa, Ciara Donaldson and Haley Lestician. Back: coach Craig Haley, coach Milt Whittaker, manager Joe Cerasi and coach Pete Lestician.
Hamilton Hurricanes 12U Blue All-Stars qualified for the Babe Ruth Softball World Series.
They are the fifth team in HGSA history to qualify for Bab Ruth Softball’s biggest tournament.
After sweeping three wins in a World Series qualifying tournament at home in April, manager Joe Cerasi’s squad secured their spot in the tournament set for Aug. 6-13 in Alachua, Fla.
The Hurricanes, who are 21-4 since the fall and 12-1 in their spring campaign, outscored the opposition, 23-2, in the qualifier. Pitcher Kaylee Whittaker fueled the Hurricanes’ run by stopping District 12 rival Sacred Heart, 4-1, on a two-hitter in the winners’ bracket final on April 26 and then 11-1 on another two-hitter in the championship round on April 27. She struck out 16 batters in her two victories.
Haley Lestician shut out the South Brunswick Vikings Gold squad, 8-0, to open the tournament, allowing only two hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.
In addition, Whittaker and Lestician also drove in five runs to lead the Hurricanes’ offense during the tournament. Whittaker’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the fifth inning of the championship game wrapped up the action via the 10-run mercy rule. She cracked a three-run double in the third inning as well.
Also in the final, Ciara Donaldson went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs, and Alex Haley was on base four times and scored three times.
