Steal Breeze under-8 girls end with tournament win

The Petaluma Steal Breeze under-8 fast pitch softball team ended its summer by winning the Capitol Sports Association Tournament in Napa this last weekend, finishing the summer with a 22-5 record.

Steal Breeze improved as a team each week as the summer moved along. The Breeze competed in five tournaments throughout the Bay Area, taking home first-place trophies in three.

In Napa, the Breeze dominated pool play with three shutouts. The team gave up only one run in five games the entire weekend. It really came together as one unit and put forth its most impressive performance of the summer.

In pool play, Steal Breeze defeated the Napa Valley Express, Marin Tremors and Eastbay Impact in dominating fashion. Steal Breeze didn’t allow a single runner to reach first base until the final inning of the third game on Saturday.

Steal Breeze received outstanding pitching performances by Marissa Brody, Brittany Casper and Lauren Reposa. All three girls pitched with poise and confidence all weekend. Brody’s role was to start and close each game, while Casper and Reposa pitched the middle innings.

Hannah Edwards was behind the plate all weekend, providing important support for the pitchers and team. Isabella Badaglia anchored the infield as the shortstop and Christina Bogart played a flawless, high-pressure first base. Brody and Casper each hit impressive home runs.

On championship Sunday, Steal Breeze earned the No. 1 seed out of 12 teams, which put it in the semifinal game of the gold bracket. Its first test was a showdown with the California Bombers. In the top of the first, Steal Breeze came out a little flat and was quickly down 1-0. The bats quickly came alive, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first and Steal Breeze never surrendered the lead again.

Haley Learn, who rode a hot bat all weekend, led the offensive charge. Maeve Broadhead, Lauren Clark, Valerie Farr, Mya Gonzalez and Ruby Frederick all contributed with the bats and gloves. The outfielders consistently limited the opposition to only one base by playing smart, fundamental defense. The outfielders kept the ball in front of them and hit the cut-off person on an almost flawless basis.

Steal Breeze won the semifinal game against the Bombers, 7-1.

The early evening championship matched the No.1 Steal Breeze against the No. 2 CV Hot Shots from Carson City, Nev. The CV Hotshots reached the championship game by dominating the opposition with a deep, intimidating, hard-throwing pitching staff. The Steal Breeze bats struggled early against the hard throwers from Nevada. The Steal Breeze pitchers and defense knew there was little room for error, which lead to a pressure-filled game with lots of high drama and fun softball by both teams.

After six innings, it was a 0-0 tie. The championship game would have to be settled in international tie-breaker format which automatically puts a runner on second base to start the inning. After Steal Breeze again held off CV, Steal Breeze mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning which led to Reposa’s walk-off single to left field that scored the winning run in a 1-0 Steal Breeze victory.

Petaluma Steal Breeze under-8 is managed by Lee Reposa with help from assistant coaches Billy Brody, Heather Christensen and Norm Bogart.