14U Connie Mack Firehawks takes top tourney honors

The Connie Mack 14U Firehawks beat the Kenmore Lady Blue Devils, 10-4, to win the 14U division of the Connie Mack tournament. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Jordan Dudish and Rachel Schepart; second row - Abby DeFrancis, Coach Roy DeFrancis, Nicole Okonczak, Courtney Smith, Kayla Hahn, coach Tim Okonczak, Kelli Gleiser, Jessica Banning, coach Scott Banning; missing from photo - Ellen Truty and Kara Stein.

The Connie Mack Firehawks, paced by the strong pitching of Jessica Banning, beat the Kenmore Lady Blue Devils, 10-4, to win the 14U division of the Connie Mack Tournament.

The Firehawks dominated throughout, outscoring their opponents 66-4 in an unbeaten march to the championship.

Nicole Okonczak hit a three-run triple and Courtney Smith ripped a two-run double to pace the Firehawk offense.

Jordan Dudish got the Firehawks started in the first inning with a single and two stolen bases and scored on Banning's single.

The Firehawks tacked on two more runs in the second on Kelli Gleiser's RBI triple. Kayla Hahn added an RBI single to make it 3-0.

Abby DeFrancis' pitching helped the Connie Mack 14U Firehawks win the Connie Mack 14U tournament last weekend. Photo by John Rusac Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

The Firehawks broke it open in the third. Dudish and Banning singled, Smith was hit by a pitch and Okonczak ripped a triple to the fence, scoring three and scored on a passed ball to make it 7-0.

The Firehawks added three more runs in the fourth as Kristy Luce singled, advanced to third on a single by Abby DeFrancis and scored on a single by Dudish. Smith then ripped a two-run double to left to ice the win.

Firehawks 11,

Amherst Thunder 0

The Firehawks got off to a great start behind the three-hit, six-strikeout pitching of Abby De- Francis.

Courtney Smith provided the offense with three hits and five RBIs. Rachel Schepart added two hits and three RBIs, and Ellen Truty and Kara Stein each added an RBI. Kelli Gleiser and Stein also scored twice.

Firehawks 12,

Kenmore Lady Blue Devils 0

The Firehawks continued to roll, blasting the Devils.

Abby DeFrancis fired a two-hitter, striking out three, and Ellen Truty and Abby DeFrancis led the offense with three RBIs each.

Kelli Gleiser, Jordan Dudish and Courtney Smith each scored twice and added an RBI, and Nicole Okonczak scored three runs and hit an RBI single.

Firehawks 9, Napoli's Pizza 0

The Firehawks continued their shutout ways as Jessica Banning pitched a two-hitter in the Firehawks' win over Napoli's Pizza.

Kara Stein and Ellen Truty each hit two-run doubles to back the four-strikeout pitching of Banning. Kayla Hahn, Banning and Kelli Gleiser each added an RBI and a run in the Firehawks' win.

Firehawks 11, Cleve Hill 0 The Firehawks finished pool play by routing Cleve Hill.

Jordan Dudish mastered a one-hitter. Dudish's four-strikeout performance was backed by a balanced Firehawk offense.

Courtney Smith doubled, scored twice and had two RBIs, while Abby DeFrancis and Dudish each scored twice and added an RBI.

Nicole Okonczak, Rachel Schepart and Jessica Banning each scored a run and had an RBI in the win.

Firehawks 13, Napoli's Pizza 0

Abby DeFrancis fired a one-hitter as the Firehawks made short work of Napoli's.

The Firehawks scored six runs in the first and six in the third as Courtney Smith homered, tripled and drove in four runs.

Jessica Banning doubled, scored three runs and had three RBIs, and DeFrancis, Jordan Dudish and Rachel Schepart each scored twice. Dudish, Kristy Luce and Kelli Gleiser added RBIs.