Firecrackers take second in tourney play

The Firecrackers, an 8-and-under Division team out of South

Huntington Beach Girls Fastpitch Softball, earned a second-place

trophy at the Brea Girls Softball Tournament.

The Firecrackers won three tournament games at Tamarack Park in

Brea. They played five games over a two-day span and fell to host

Brea, 5-1, in the tournament’s title game.

The battery of pitcher Bianca Horn and catcher Tyler Ratzlaff

helped keep the Firecrackers in each of the five games. Chanel Luis,

Logan Vournas, Jessica Cruise, Alison Jahansouz, Chiara DeMarco and

Angie Santopaolo sparked the offense, and MacKenzie Kastle, Dana

Kerins, Maya Wilde, Risa Burke and Breeauna Beason each made key

contributions on defense.

Firecrackers 8, Ontario 5

Bianca Horn threw three solid innings to get the win and was

backed by the offense of Chanel Luis, Alison Jahansouz and Jessica

Cruise.

Brea 10, Firecrackers 6

The host squad handed the Firecrackers, who scored all six of

their runs in the bottom of the third, their first tournament loss.

Firecrackers 7, Canyon Hills 4

Chanel Luis went two for two and drove in three runs and Bianca

Horn got the win as the Firecrackers advanced to the semifinal round.

Firecrackers 8, Ontario 5

In a rematch between the two teams, the Firecrackers trailed, 5-4,

heading into the bottom of the fourth, when Tyler Ratzlaff scored

MacKenzie Kastle for the tying run and Chanel Luis smashed a two-out,

bases loaded three-run double to send the Firecrackers to the

championship game.

Brea 5, Firecrackers 1

Angie Santopaolo drove in the only run for the Firecrackers, who

lost for the second time to Brea.

The Firecrackers next will compete at the Fountain Valley Girls’

Softball Tournament June 18-20.