Connie Mack 14U Firehawks win tournament

The 14U Connie Mack Firehawks won the Vienna, Ohio 14U May Madness Tournament. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: bottom row - Kara Stein, Rachel Schepart; second row - Nicole Okonczak, Ellen Truty, Kristy Luce; third row - Jessica Banning, Julie Hagner, Abby DeFrancis, Courtney Smith; standing - coaches Roy DeFrancis and Scott Banning.

The Connie Mack 14U Firehawks posted a 2-1-1 record in pool play games en route to winning the Vienna, Ohio May Madness Tournament held on Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20.

The Firehawks opened pool play with a 10-0 shutout victory over the 14U Thunder Elite. The game was called after four innings because of the mercy rule.

Jessica Banning threw a one-hitter and struck out nine of 14 batters faced. At the plate, she had a single, scored a run and had a RBI. Catcher Kara Stein (double, single, two RBIs) fielded out a bunt to first base. First baseman Courtney Smith (single, walk, run, RBI) caught a fly ball for an out. Third baseman Julie Hagner (two doubles, single, three RBIs, run) fielded a ball to first for an out. Kristy Luce (walk, run), Abby DeFrancis (two singles, run) Nicole Okonczak (double, single, two runs), and Rachel Schepart (two doubles, single, two RBIs, two runs) also chipped in on offense.

MOUNT UNION BOUND - Williamsville East cornerback Joe Schriever, right, will play football at Division III Mount Union College this coming fall. Mount Union has won nine Division III national championships over the last 14 years. Schriever set school records at East for interceptions (11) and longest interception return for a touchdown (99 yards). Schriever was a Class A North first team selection the last two years.

Firehawks 3, 12U Valley Rage 3

In their second pool play game, the Firehawks tied the 12U Valley Rage, 3-3.

Julie Hagner threw nine strikeouts, allowed six hits, and fielded two fly balls for outs. At the plate, she hit two singles. Catcher Kara Stein caught a pop fly for an out and caught a runner in a pickle play with the third baseman, eventually tagging the runner out. Stein hit two singles.

Courtney Smith caught two fly balls for outs at first and hit a double, single, and recorded two RBIs.

At second base, Kristy Luce (walk) caught a fly ball for an out and fielded a ball to first for an out. Abby DeFrancis (two singles) fielded a ball at shortstop to third to get out the lead runner. Jessica Banning (single, run) fielded two outs from third to first. Rachel Schepart singled and scored a run.

Firehawks 2,

Pittsburgh Lady Roadrunners 1

In their third pool play game, the Firehawks defeated the Pittsburgh Lady Roadrunners, 2-1.

Abby DeFrancis threw seven strikeouts and allowed three hits. She also fielded a ball to second to get a lead runner out.

Julie Hagner, playing catcher, caught a fly ball for an out, threw out a runner attempting to steal second, threw out another runner off the bag at first, and tagged out two girls trying to score at home. At the plate, Hagner hit a single, walked and scored a run.

Courtney Smith singled and in the field, caught two fielded balls for outs at first and tagged out a runner off the bag. Kristy Luce, at second, fielded a ball to first for an out.

At shortstop, Jessica Banning tagged out a runner trying to steal second, caught and fielded a ball from the outfield to tag out a batter attempting to advance to second. She singled at the plate.

Kara Stein (walk, two singles, run), at third, fielded an out to first, and relayed the ball from center field to catcher for an out. Nicole Okonczak singled and in left field, caught a fly ball for an out and threw a fielded ball to catcher for an out. Rachel Schepart (double, two RBIs) fielded a ball in center field to second for an out. Ellen Truty walked and caught a fly ball in right field for an out.

Valley Rage 4, Firehawks 1

In their fourth pool play game, the 14U Valley Rage defeated the Firehawks, 4-1.

Jessica Banning threw nine strikeouts, five hits, and fielded two outs to first for outs. Julie Hagner (single, double, RBI), caught a pop fly for catcher for an out. Courtney Smith, at first, fielded a grounder for an out. Kristy Luce, at second, fielded a ball to first for an out. Abby DeFrancis, at shortstop, caught a fly ball for an out. Kara Stein (two singles, run), at third, caught a fly ball for an out. Rachel Schepart caught a fly ball in center for an out. Ellen Truty singled.

Firehawks 7, 14U Thunder Elite 2

The Firehawks were seeded second after pool play and defeated the 14U Thunder Elite, 7-2.

Jessica Banning threw 12 strikeouts, allowed three hits, and fielded an out to first. At the plate, she walked once and scored a run.

Kara Stein singled and scored a run. Courtney Smith hit two doubles and scored a run and caught a fly ball for an out at first. Kristy Luce (single, hit by pitch, run), Abby DeFrancis caught three fly balls for outs at shortstop, and Julie Hagner (double, single, two RBIs) fielded a ball to first for an out at third. Nicole Okonczak (single, RBI), Rachel Schepart (single, RBI), and

Ellen Truty (two singles) also supplied offense.

Firehawks 7, 14U Valley Rage 0

In the championship game, the Firehawks shut out the 14U Valley Rage, 7-0. The Rage was seeded first in pool play.

Jessica Banning threw a six-hitter and struck out six. She also caught a fly ball, fielded a ball to first for an out, and threw a ball to second to get the lead runner in a pickle between second and third. The runner was tagged out by the shortstop.

Kara Stein (single, run), playing catcher, tagged out two runners attempting to score at home. At first, Courtney Smith (double, single, two RBIs, run) caught a fly ball for an out and fielded a ball to second and to third to get a lead runner out.

Kristy Luce (sacrifice bunt) fielded an out to first, caught and fielded a ball at second for an out, and threw out a runner trying to score at home. Abby DeFrancis (two singles, walk) fielded two outs from shortstop to first, threw out a girl attempting to score, and covered second for two outs. Julie Hagner (two singles, run) fielded a force out at third by herself and fielded a ball to second to get the lead runner out.

Nicole Okonczak (double, single, three RBIs, run), Rachel Schepart (two walks, caught fly ball in center field for an out), and Ellen Truty (single, fielder's choice, two runs) also supplied offense for the Firehawks.