Second-half surge lifts Strikers in win

The HB Strikers came up with a strong second-half effort Saturday and were able to slip past Taking Care of Business, 2-1, in AYSO girls’ Region 55 Under-12 division play.

Taking Care of Business was in control of the action in the first half and scored the first goal of the match just before halftime. The Strikers opened the second half by scoring their first goal on a boot by Alexa Vellanoweth.

Vellanoweth also scored the game-winner late in the match.

In youth baseball action:

Surf City Vikings win tourney title

The Surf City Vikings 12-and-Under baseball team defeated the Palm Desert Bull Dogs 13-1 in the Division I championship game of the Triple Crown Thanksgiving weekend tournament in Palm Desert.

It was the second tournament title for the Vikings, who recently won the Veterans Day Tournament.

“Our team continues to improve with each tournament and with each game that we play in,” Vikings Manager Gorden Gates said.

The Vikings finished 5-1 in the tournament, the lone loss (9-6) coming to the Bull Dogs in pool play. Surf City opened the tournament with a mercy victory over the So Cal Magic (12-1). Ensuing wins came over the Arizona Titans (11-6), Trabuco Canyon Twins (17-3) and the previously undefeated Chula Vista Green Sox (5-3).

The Vikings baseball organization, made up of teams representing age groups from 11 to 14, will be forming a second 12-and-Under team to compete in local tournaments in 2007. Contact Manager Kevin Kelly at (310) 710-6606 for additional information.

In youth softball action:

Fireballs second in tournament action

The South Huntington Beach Fireballs 8-and-Under team earned a second-place finish at the Long Beach Turkey Tournament. The Fireballs and West Garden Grove played to a 1-1 tie in the tournament opener, then fell, 3-1, to the Cypress Hot Styxz. They came back to eliminate a second team from West Garden Grove, 3-0, then scored a 4-0 win over Chaos.

The Fireballs reached the division final, where they fell again to the Hot Styxz, this time by a 5-2 score. Dani Dennison pitched the entire tournament for the Fireballs, and Aislinn Martin caught every inning. The defensive play of Kara Winthrop, Linnea Paden, Cassidy Dennison, Allie Greenburg and Dani Dennison contributed to two shutouts, and Winthrop, Martin, Greenburg, Dani Dennison, Meghan Colburn, Megan Deats, Jessica Karns, Lauren Rademaker and Timre Tonti all produced key hits.