Riptide qualifies for nationals

The Newport Beach Riptide, an 18-and-under fastpitch softball travel

team, has earned a berth into the Amateur Softball Association

national tournament, which will be in Clovis, Calif., Aug. 2-8.

Riptide has gone 77-23-5 this season and is believed to be the

first team from the Newport Beach area to reach the ASA national

tournament at the 18-and-under age level.

The Newport team includes Newport Harbor High’s Julianne Bass and

Sasha Grumman, as well as Corona del Mar’s Heather Lohrman.

Riptide, winner of the winter national, Rebel’s Gold and Newport

Classic tournaments this season, qualified for the ASA national event

by going 5-2, finishing in the top seven at the 18-and-under

California state championships. The team then went 6-2, finishing

third in the Pacific Coast Regional tournament, held July 10-11 in

Pleasanton.

Riptide is coached by Barry Grumman, Jeff Ferguson and Willie

Brown.