Steal Breeze girls make their fathers proud

Petaluma Steal Breeze girls couldn’t quite capture a title in their annual Father’s Day Softball Tournament, but they did make their fathers proud in the two-day affair at Prince Park.

Hundreds of young players between 8 and 14 swarmed all over the Petaluma park in the organized chaos that is the annual tournament that features some of the best age-group softball players in four age divisions.

Two Steal Breeze teams, the 8 and unders and 14 and unders, reached championship games, while two others, the 10 and unders and the 12 and unders, played in semifinal games.

14 and under

Because one of the teams in the 14-and-under field needed a couple of older players to fill out its lineup, the division was officially a 16-and-under field, although most of the teams, including the Steal Breeze, were composed of 14 and under players.

In what was perhaps the most exciting game of the tournament, Petaluma battled the Union City Fury even through seven regulation innings before losing 5-4 in the eighth inning of the championship game.

For the most part, the game was a fine pitching match between Petaluma’s strike-throwing Kailia Aiwohi and the Fury’s fire-throwing Sarah Provanchi, although both toiled through hot water with base runners in every inning.

The Fury’s blazing team speed was offset by the Steal Breeze’s ability to pick runners off base which twice saved crucial runs.

Despite a hurting exception in the fifth inning, when things temporarily fell apart, the Steal Breeze players generally backed their pitcher with good inner defense from catcher AlexZandria Lyons, first baseman Alyssa Smith, second baseman Presley Ruoff, third baseman Ashley Casper and shortstop Morgan Robertson.

Kaleigh Weiland hustled Petaluma to a run in the first inning when she singled, stole second and scored on Ruoff’s single down the right-field line.

The Fury’s super speedster Jazmine Agregado doubled and hustled home a game-tying run in the second. The Fury moved ahead in the fourth, scoring a run without getting the ball out of the infield.

The normally solid Steal Breeze defense failed in the top of the fifth inning when three errors helped the Fury score two runs for a 4-1 lead.

With Provanchi throwing underhand smoke, it looked like the end for the Breeze.

But the Petalumans proved resilient. In the bottom of the fifth, the Breeze hit, blooped and bunted their way to six straight hits, three runs and a 4-4 tie game. Biggest hit in the rally was a clutch two-run single by Teresa McGaughey.

Neither team scored in the sixth or seventh innings, with the Breeze escaping with the tie intact by picking a Fury runner off third.

In accordance with tournament rules, each team started the eighth inning with a runner at second. The Fury scored their runner on a clutch hit by Destiny Taylor, but the Steal Breeze failed to get a hit, and had to settle for an honorable second place.

Steal Breeze moved into the title game with an 8-4 win over victory.

Members of the Steal Breeze team are Aiwohi, Casper, Abbie Delaney, Lyons, McGaughey, Mandy O’Keefe, Kaileigh Pate, Robertson, Ruoff, Smith, Kamryn Sobel, Emma Weiland, Kaleigh Weiland and Katrina Yardley.

8 and under

The Steal Breeze 8 and under team came as close as any team in the tournament to playing with powerful unbeaten Benicia, losing in the championship game, 10-1. The Steal Breeze was the only team to score against Benicia in the entire tournament.

Before running into Benicia in Sunday’s elimination play, the Steal Breeze defeated the Rohnert Park Rebels, 6-1, and Novato, 9-2.

Members of the Steal Breeze team are Maave Broadhead, Layce Carlomagno, Alex Giacomini, Nora Grace Gonzalez, Callie Howard, Lauren Ketchu, Haley Learn, Raelyn MacQuarrie, Lily Pardini, Madelyn Rynning, Emma Schwappach, Lauren Wilson and Dallas Young.

10 and under

The Steal Breeze 10 and under team, after winning its first bracket game, 15-4, over its sister Steal Breeze team, lost a tough game to the Rohnert Park Rebels, 2-0, in the semifinals.

Casey Sullivan pitched well for Petaluma, but Rohnert Park scratched out a run on a ground out in the fourth inning and added insurance on a wild pitch in the seventh.

The Steal Breeze infield of Cara Broadhead at first, Marissa Brody at second, Hailey Goebel at third and Christina Bogart at shortstop backed their pitcher with some outstanding defense.

Brody had a big game for Petaluma with an outstanding back-to-the-infield catch. She also doubled and singled.

Members of the team are Isabella Badaglia, Brooke Baxman, Bogart, Broadhead, Karen Brody, Marissa Brody, Brittany Casper, Hanna Edwards, Madelyn Fannin, Alyssa Goebel, Hailey Goebel, Lauren Reposa and Sullivan.

Members of the other Steal Breeze 10 and under team are Lilly Acosta, Ava Acuna, Brycelyn Casey, Valerie Farr, Mya Gonzalez, Kyra Jensen, Kenna Lowry, Lulu Moug, Marissa Robertson, Emily Terry, Mia Vaughn and Alice Williams.

12 and under

The Steal Breeze 12 and unders defeated Sonoma, 11-3, before losing to the Marin Tremors, 7-0, in a game that was closer than the score indicates.

The Tremors scored three runs in the first inning, but were held at bay by pitcher Mallory O’Keefe and the strong Steal Breeze defense until the sixth inning when they put the game away with another three-run outburst.

A highlight for the Steal Breeze was provided by Ava Luiz, who belted a long triple.

Members of the Steal Breeze team are Karlie Berncich, Kylie Carlomagno, Abby Carvajal, Madelyn De La Montanya, Sara Grenier, Emily Hart, Luiz, Mo Lynch, Jamie McGaughey, O’Keefe, Logan Pomi and Macey Shern.