Firecrackers Utah earn the respect of their peers with PGF 16U Platinum championship

IRVINE – Moments after a stunning victory by their out-of-state representative, Firecrackers president Tony Rico addressed the Firecrackers Utah 16U club, glowing with pride and admiration.

He made a point not lost among the best of teams – the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back. By way of a surprising run through the Premier Girls Fastpitch Nationals, the Firecrackers Utah had added to the legacy of the organization. Furthermore, they had earned a distinguished place in its history.

This was their moment, one that lasted for only a few minutes on the field, but it will last a lifetime. The Firecrackers Utah put themselves on the map by defeating the Birmingham Thunderbolts 2001 Dorsey, 7-4, in the 16U Platinum championship game last Saturday at Bill Barber Park’s Deanna Manning Stadium.

“From when I started coaching in this game five years ago, our Utah team would come out to California and have no respect,” Firecrackers Utah coach Freddie Rollin said. “We’ve been coming out the last three years and had a lot of respect.

“The Firecrackers Utah Rollin team, they respect us. With this happening today, we’re on the map, and they will respect us now.”

An impressive display of power announced the Firecrackers’ presence in the championship. Jazmyn Rollin and Madi Rouska each hit a solo home run in the first two innings.

In the third, the Firecrackers used their speed to manufacture two more runs. Leadoff hitter Keisha White doubled to left. Then Rollin beat out an infield single. Timeout had not been called when the ball was tossed back to the pitcher, and Rollin took off for second to force a throw. She drew the throw, and White broke for home and scored.

At the end of the play, Rollin was standing on third, putting her in position to score when April Visser reached on an infield error with two outs.

Rollin went three for four with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. White also scored twice, adding an RBI-single as part of a three-run fourth that widened the Firecrackers’ lead to 7-0.

White drew praise from her teammates for her electric plays in center field. She ranged into the left-center gap to take away a hit from Caitlyn McCrary in the third. In the sixth, she made an over-the-shoulder catch against Carlee McCondichie, ending a four-run rally with another runner in scoring position.

“She is a beast,” Rollin, the Firecrackers’ third baseman, said. “Two games ago, she ran into a pole, messed up her shoulder real bad.

“We knew that we had to keep her out there. She has range out of this world, line to line. If she had to cover the whole thing, she would. She would cover it all.”

The game was on the brink of a run-rule decision when the Thunderbolts came up in the bottom of the sixth. Madison Majors, Hannah Borden, and Jordyn Manning all singled to load the bases.

Kassidy Wilcox took full advantage with a grand slam to put the Thunderbolts back in the game. Grace Robertson followed with a single, but the Firecrackers were able to retire the next three in order.

Andrew.Turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner