Amherst Lightning Gold wins 16U PONY Nationals

The Amherst Lightning Gold 16U Girls Fastpitch Softball Team won the PONY National Softball Championship. Members of the team, pictured from left are: first row Shannon Wilson and Michelle Krier; second row Steve Ulmer, Phil Mankowski, Danielle Martzolf, Katie Lancellotti, Sam Rajski, Kaylee Lekki, Kerry Ulmer, Amanda Cannizzo, Kyrstin Lekki, Melissa Rogers, Kate Mankowski, Holly Johnson, Jeff Cannizzo and Harry Martzolf. Photo by Patrick McPartland

The Amherst Lightning Gold 16U Girls Fastpitch Softball Team won the PONY National Softball Championship last week.

The tournament featured 120 teams from 35 states and Canada. This was the veteran team's fourth trip to nationals in five years. The Lightning posted an overall 11-0 record in the tournament. They are 60-8 overall.

Team highlights include outscoring their opposition 57-8 and seven shutouts. The Lightning battled through four one-run victories and never trailed at any time. The Lightning relied on strong pitching, great team defense, and timely hitting.

A grueling four games on championship Saturday led the Lightning from the Sweet 16 round to the championship game. A first game extra inning 5-4 victory over the Maryland Magic put the team into the Elite 8 for the first time in its history. Momentum took over as the Lightning quickly dismantled the New Jersey Tornados, 8-0, and Ohio Classics, 6-2, to gain a spot in the National Championship game versus the Maryland Hornets.

After threatening in the first inning, the Lightning went down in order in the second and stranded one in the third.

The defense was holding things together by shutting down Maryland's strong hitting.

The Lightning, who had capitalized on the opposition's mistakes throughout the tournament, were ready to strike in the fourth. Katie Lancellotti opened with a single. Kerry Ulmer worked the count full before drawing a walk. The runners advanced on a passed ball. Kyrstin Lekki executed a perfect bunt to score Lancellotti and when the pitcher attempted to throw out Lekki at first, Ulmer scored the team's second run.

Holly Johnson kept the Hornets off balance through 4.2 innings when the Hornets started to rally. The Hornets had runners on first and second when the Lightning called on Michelle Krier to come in relief of Johnson. After falling behind 3 and 0, Krier ended the inning with a strikeout.

The Hornets scored a run in the sixth and the Lightning were one out away from the championship when a Hornet batter hit a shot to deep center field. As the ball was going over her head, Amanda Cannizzo put her glove in the air at the last second and made a sensational catch to end the game.

This victory and the 10 other victories during the week were the result of a Lightning team that worked together and where every player had a special role.

Team members include Cannizzo (Sweet Home), Johnson (Amherst), Krier (Kenmore), Lancellotti (Clarence), Kyrstin Lekki (Niagara Wheatfield), Kaylee Lekki (Niagara Wheatfield), Kate Mankowski (Orchard Park), Danielle Martzolf (Lancaster), Sam Rajski (Frontier), Melissa Rogers (Clarence), Ulmer (Williamsville North), and Shannon Wilson (North Tonawanda).

At the conclusion of the championship game, the Lightning had played 27 games in 16 days. This past weekend, the Lightning won the 27th annual Plank Rd. Tournament in Syracuse also going undefeated. The team also won the Niagara Frontier Softball League 18U regular season and playoff championships. Becca Zimmerman (Jamestown) is also a member of that team.