Shippensburg, PA (Youth1) - Softball teams from all over Central and Western Pennsylvania recently flocked to Memorial Park for the 2010 USSSA Central & Western State Championship tournament.

The competition kicked off in the 10U division with the Central PA Krunch crushing the competition to win the state championship.  The Krunch stumbled out of the gates as they dropped the first game of pool play to the PA Poison, 6-2, but that loss fueled the Krunch and they rattled off 4 straight victories, outscoring their opponents 48-10, making it to the championship game where they faced the PA Poison.  Down 4-1 at their last at-bat, the Krunch rallied for 4 runs to beat the Poison 5-4.   This victory is the Krunch’s 2nd consecutive 1st place finish and Youth1 would like to congratulate Nicole Bechtel, Kaia Bonshock, Ava Bottiglia, Cassidy Bowen, Rachel Garlock, Samantha Gress, Gabby Krupilis, Maddie McMillan, Cheyanna Phillips, Jenna Sloss, Tori Tredinnick, and Lexi Weaver on their outstanding play.

In the 12U division the PA Shooting Stars claimed the state championship in convincing fashion, going 6-0 in the tournament and holding their opponents to a combined total of 16 runs while tallying 39 of their own.  The Shooting Stars kicked off pool play by shutting out the PA Blitz 14-0.  They continued their dominance with victories over the PA Ball Hawks-Black, 6-3, and the MTAA Black Diamonds, 4-2, before advancing to the bracket round.  After the hard earned wins against the PA Poison, 4-3, and the PA Power, 2-0, the Shooting Stars made it to the championship game against the Mason Dixon Blaze.  The Blaze came into the final game having outscored their opponents 58-7, but the Shooting Stars were able to out slug the tournament’s highest scoring team to come out with the 9-8 win.  With the victory, Melanie Berneman, Robin Feaster, Brianna Garber, Hannah Garber, Reilly Gearhart, Jolyssa High, Katelyn High, Jenna Lawville, Nicole Mengel, Kylie Myers, Rachel Robinson, Mariah Rodriquez, and Taylor Schies improved their overall tournament record to 32-12-2 and earned the title of state champions.

Wrapping up the youth action was the 14U division, which saw the Attitude, led by coach David Nusbaum, take home the state title.  The Attitude came out firing during their first game and defeated the PA Alley Cats 12-1.  During the final two games of pool play however, the Attitude were outscored 19-4 in their losses to the Pittsburgh Pride and the PA Poison.  Determined not to go home empty handed, the Attitude battled back, winning their next 4 straight games, the last three being back-to-back, and culminating with an 8-1 victory over Mason Dixon Blaze in the championship game.  This title makes it the fourth tournament the Attitude have won this year, the others being the Copper Bracket at the Memorial Day Madness, the York Invitational, and the Crabtown Crackdown.  Youth1 would like to send a shoutout to, starting at the top left of the picture, Taylor Gould, Jenna Jacoby, Ali Posey, Jordyn Miller, Angie Delise, Cassiday Barshinger, Mackenzie Rumburg, Hailey Orwig, Alexa Taylor, Brittany Armpriester, Megan Greenplate, and Cheyenne Fulcher (seated)  for their magnificent play in the state tournament.

Youth1 would also like to recognize the 2010 Tom Burns College Scholarship award winners that were announced at the Central & Western Pennsylvania State Championships: Domanique Kemp (PA Blitz), Bridget Yothers (Blue Diamonds Gold), Taylor Leonard (PA Intensity Red), and Kendel Aurand (Lady Trojans).

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