YOUTH SOFTBALL (16U): VALLEY STORM WINS USSSA 'HITS FOR HEART' TOURNAMENT; QUALIFIES FOR NATIONALS (2019-02-12)

Valley Sports Report
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Valley Storm won its final three games Saturday, avenging a loss in the opening round in the process, to win the USSSA Hits for Heart 16U National Qualifier.

The Storm dropped a 1-0 decision to the Albany-based Dutchess Debs in its opening game, then logged wins over teams from Rochester and Philadelphia, before finishing off the day with a 7-5 win over the Debs in the finals.

The Storm will play in the 16U Open Nationals in Ocean City, Md. Jul28 to Aug. 3.

Dutchess Deb 1, Valley Storm 0
The Storm came up on the short end of a pitcher's dual in a 1-0 loss to the Dutchess Debs in their opening game of the tournament, despite a 4-2 advantage in hits.

Elmira's Shelby Smith doubled and singled, while Waverly's Morgan Lee and Athens' Harley Sullivan each singled to account for the Storm's four hits.

Athens' Megan Bennett was tagged with the hard-luck loss. She allowed one run on two hits, while striking out five and walking one in four innings of work.

Valley Storm 4, Rochester Lady Lions 1
The Valley Storm scored two runs in the top of the second inning, and two more in the fourth inning to rally for a 4-1 win over the Rochester Lady Lions.

Trailing 1-0, Athens' Emma Repsher singled to lead off the top of the second inning, and Athens' Harley Sullivan followed with a double to left field. Towanda's Maddie Maynard tied the game with a groundout, then Horseheads' Alexia Wahl-Knowlden gave the Storm a 2-1 lead with RBI single to center field.

With two outs in the fourth inning, Sulivan doubled and Maynard followed with a two-run home run to center field to make it 4-1.

Sullivan ripped a pair of doubles and scored two runs to lead the Storm's nine-hit attack, while Maynard homered, scored one run, and had three RBI, and Repsher singled and scored one run.

Wahl-Knowlden singled and drove in a run and Elmira's Sophie and Shelby Smith, Athens' Megan Bennett, and Waverly's Hali Jenner each added a single.

Jenner earned the win in the pitcher's circle for the Storm, allowing one run on two hits, striking out nine and walking two in four innings of work. Bennett struck out the side in one inning of work to close out the game.

Valley Storm 3, Sluggersville 0
Athens' Megan Bennett tossed a 1-hitter to lift the Valley Storm to a 3-0 win over Sluggersville.

Bennett struck out 11 and walked two in four innings to earn the win.

The Storm scored its runs in a three-run rally in the home half of the third inning. With one out, Bennett singled deep into the hole at shortstop. With two outs, Athens' Emma Repsher walked, and both runners scored when Sullivan belted a two-RBI double to left field. Sullivan scored on an errant throw on the play.

Sullivan doubled, scored one run, and had wo RBI, while Repsher doubled and scored one run, and Towanda's Maddie Maynard doubled.

Valley Storm 7, Dutchess Debs 5
The Valley Storm scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning and held on for a 7-5 win over the Dutchess Debs in the championship game.

In the top of the second inning, Athens' Harley Sullivan ripped a lead-off double and scored on an RBI single by Towanda's Maddie Maynard to tie the game at 1-1. Maynard later scored on an sacrifice fly by Horseheads' Alexia Wahl-Knowlden to give the Storm a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Elmira's Sophie Smith and Athens' Megan Bennett singled to start a five-run rally. Elmira's Shelby Smith belted an RBI double to make it 3-1, and Athens' Emma Repsher knocked in a run with a groundout to first base to push the lead to 4-1.

With two outs, Maynard ripped an RBI double to left field, and Wahl-Knowlden followed with a line-drive RBI single to right field to make it 6-1. After a single by Waverly's Hali Jenner and a walk to Corning's Jenna Case loaded the bases, Waverly's Morgan Lee worked a walk to force home a run to make it 7-1.

The Debs rallied with four runs in the home half of the inning, but Bennett stranded the tying runs on first and second to preserve the win.

Maynard doubled and singled, scored two runs and drove in two runs, and Sophie Smith singled twice and scored one run to lead the Storm's nine-hit attack, while Wahl-Knowlden singled, scored one run, and knocked in two runs, and Shelby Smith doubled, scored one run, and drove in one run.

Bennett singled and scored one run in the win, while Sullivan doubled and scored a run, Jenner singled, and Repsher and Lee each drove in one run.

Bennett, who came on in relief after just one batter in the first inning, earned the win with four innings of work. She allowed four runs on five hits, while striking out three and walking four.