The Richmond Islanders 92B girls softball team celebrated the Canada Day Weekend by capturing the gold division of the Lower Mainland Cup in Maple Ridge.
The tournament saw the Lower Mainland Midget "B" League teams divided into gold and silver divisions based on regular season play. The Islanders landed on the gold side after producing an impressive 10-2-3 record.
In round-robin play, the '92 girls won three games, losing their fourth by just one run. The pitching-catching duos of Julia Badock, Kerri Bodin and Krista Beaton and catchers Chloe Plecash and Sadie Skara struck out 21 batters throughout the tournament. Round-robin highlights included home runs by shortstop Cherise Chang, second base Katie Sherlock and pickup third base Chelsea Riva. Timely hits and solid play were also delivered by centre fielder Anna Fenn, right fielder Janessa Murao, left fielder Kelsey Lawrence, first base Jessica Ramsey and pickup player Daina Freigang.
The semi-final saw the first-place Islanders face fourth place North Delta Sunfire '92 -- the only team that had beat them in round-robin play. Beaton allowed just two hits as Richmond rolled to an 8-0 mercy-rule victory. Sherlock sparked the attack with another home run, while Plecash added a double.
Some excellent defence keyed the Islanders to a 9-2 win over the South Surrey Thunder in the championship game.
Crucial catches were made by outfielders Lawrence, Fenn, Murao and Freigang, while solid infield play by Chang, Sherlock, Badock, Ramsey and Riva limited the Thunder attack. Boden allowed just three hits to get the win.
The Islanders now have medalled in all six tournaments they've entered. The team is sporting the initials LB on their pants to honour longtime coach Lorne Bodin, who passed away from cancer earlier this year. The team recently participated in the Relay for Life - a cancer research fundraiser.
Amanda Sandhu and Dara Rykiss were unable to play in the Lower Mainland Cup. The team is coached by Robin Fenn, Chris Beaton, Doug Lawrence and John Badock.
Next up for the Islanders is the Canadian Open Fastpitch Tournament, July 9-13 at Softball City, then provincials in Nanaimo, July 22-24.
The team is coached by Robin Fenn, Chris Beaton, Doug Lawrence and John Badock.
