Locals national-bound

Four age group teams from the Huntington Beach Water Polo Club “Piranhas” have qualified for the 2007 Summer U.S. Water Polo National Junior Olympics. The national tournament begins Saturday and concludes Wednesday in San Jose.

The qualifying Piranhas teams include the boys’ 12- and 14-and-under teams and the girls’ 14-U and high school-age teams. Last year, the boys’ 12-U team finished fifth.

“As part of the community, the Huntington Beach Water Polo Club is proud to represent the city of Huntington Beach in this prestigious event, Alex Alvarez, director of the club, said in a statement.

In other youth news:

Anderson Heat, a 12-and-Under travel softball team based in Huntington Beach, will compete next week at the 12-U “A” national championships in Roseville.

This team qualified for its first trip to the nationals by placing fourth at the recent state and regional championship tournaments.

The Heat players are Casey Africano, Samantha Agamaite, Emily Brucelas, Sammy Cordova, Taylor Dennison, Cortney Goodwin, Samantha Gurney, Madison Hickman, Rachel LoGrasso, Sydney Montgomery, Lindsay Stovall, Carissa Sherman, Nicole Zapotoczny and coaches Art Cordova, Rich Dennison, Evan Gurney and Marissa Vela.