Storm takes second in Midwest championships

Courtney Warford and Kaylee Smith received game MVP awards during the tournament. Courtney Warford and Bailey Perkins were awarded t-shirts stating that they "Went Yard" with MSP at the close of the tourney. Morgan Horvatin on the Fireballz team, Gallatin, was awarded Defensive MVP. Storm player Kaylee Smith was awarded Offensive MVP, and Taylor Zimmerman was awarded tournament MVP. Storm was awarded the sportsmanship award of the tournament as well. GR Storm wrapped up the season 30-12 and were ranked first in the State USSSA Coaches Poll, third in the state Power Ranking, and tied for being ranked 13th in the Nation of 240 14U teams.

July 9 marked the start of the 14U C Midwest Championships in Kansas City. Among the teams present was GR Storm comprised of players from Pattonsburg, Winston, Maysville, Bethany, Cameron and Eagleville. On July 9, all teams gathered at Tiffany Hills Sports Complex for the skills competition and opening ceremonies. Members from Storm took part in all aspects of the competition. The runner up in the 14U Velocity Contest was Courtney Warford, Pattonsburg. The champions in the Star Drill throwing contest were Kayla Bird, Maysville, Bailey Perkins, Eagleville and Kalee Wright, Josie Williams and Kaylee Smith from Bethany. The girls were presented their awards during the opening ceremonies.
On July 10, the team’s first game was against the Topeka Venom. The team was defeated 3-1 and Courtney Warford was awarded the MVP for this game. The second game, the team played the Burlington Explosion, from Burlington Kan. The Storm rattled the bats to score 11 runs and defeat Burlington 11-3. Game MVP was awarded to Kaylee Smith.
The team was seeded first in their pool and was set to begin bracket play on July 11. Their bracket games were to take place at Fountain Bluffs Sports Complex in Liberty. Storm arrived ready to play the X-Treme Heat of Eudora, Kan., and they were defeated 3-2, knocking them into the loser’s bracket. Their second game was against Y.E.S. Fanatics and again Storm rattled the bats to score 10 runs and the right to continue on in the tournament. The third game of the night was played against the Topeka Freeze winning 8-7 when a walk off double by Josie Williams scored Baylea Martin in the final inning. Kaylee Smith snagged a line drive up the middle to stop a scoring threat by the Freeze.
Storm was to continue tournament play on July 12 back at Fountain Bluffs, but the team was thrown into a five hour rain delay setting their first game back, and to Basehor, Kan. The team seemed unaffected by this rain delay and pulled together for 11 runs defeating Diamond Skills Angels of Kansas City 11-3. After a one game break, the team reassembled to play a rematch game against X-Treme Heat and they defeated the Heat 3-2. After moving fields to play another game after a short warm-up, Storm defeated Ming’s MAA/Chill’s Heat 4-2 and moving fields yet again. Once reaching what was thought to be the field they would play the remainder of the tournament, the Storm played the Sliders of Mexico, Mo. They defeated the sliders 6-5 when Courtney Warford came in with the bases loaded and retired the side for the save.
The two teams playing in the championship games were both from Northwest Missouri and were caught off guard when they were told to switch fields after completing their warm ups. Storm came out on top of the two game championship defeating the Fireballz 8-1. Courtney Warford had a lead-off home run in the secpnd inning, powering the team forward. After playing their fourth game in a row, Storm prepared to play the final game of the tournament as their fifth game in a row after coming through the loser’s bracket. The team hit a wall, but gave it their all, as they were defeated by the Fireballz, 8-7 in the final inning. Bailey Perkins had a three run home run in the fourth inning, giving the team an adrenaline rush but not quite enough for them to come out on top.
After the teams had congratulated each other and the pictures were taken, the awards were presented. Courtney Warford and Bailey Perkins were awarded t-shirts stating that they "Went Yard" with MSP.
Fireballz player Bridgette Bryson was awarded Outstanding Pitcher, and Morgan Horvatin, Gallatin, was awarded Defensive MVP. Storm player Kaylee Smith was awarded Offensive MVP, and Taylor Zimmerman was awarded tournament MVP. Storm was awarded the Sportsmanship award of the tournament as well.

GR Storm wrapped up the season 30-12 and were ranked first in the State USSSA Coaches Poll, third in the state Power Ranking, and a tie for being ranked 13th in the Nation of 240 14U teams.
GR Storm had a very successful season; they started off playing in the MSP Spring fling and was knocked out in the first round of bracket play. The team pulled together and improved greatly finishing first in the Cowtown Showdown after going 1-2 on Saturday, but pulling together on Sunday for a 4-0 Sunday defeating the Sun Devils 3-0 in the championship game. Courtney Warford, Kayla Bird and Baylea Martin were awarded MVPs of the three pool play games. The team then continued the season in the ASA/VIP Series tournament in Lee’s Summit going undefeated in the tournament and defeating the Shox, 6-4 in the championship game. The next weekend, the team traveled to Kansas City to play in the Hawaiian Hitfest and was knocked out in the second round of bracket play; Courtney Warford, Baylea Martin, and Taylor Zimmerman were awarded MVP’s of the pool play games. And the final tournament before the Midwest Championships was the 21st Annual Ann Harrison Memorial Tournament in Raytown. The team went 2-1 on Saturday and 2-1 on Sunday. Their only losses of the tournament were to the Precision Panthers in the first game of pool play and in the championship game.