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Four Local Softball Teams Reach Nationals

120 Team Tournament in Moline, Ill.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: July 28, 2008

Six Bay Area teams will begin pool play today in Moline, Ill., for the USA/Amateur Softball Association 18-and-under Fastpitch National Championships.

The national competition invited 120 teams hailing from all reaches of the country. Adding to the tournaments' yearly prestige is that it's a natural attractor of collegiate talent scouts.

Of the six qualified area teams, two are based in West Pasco – Bash Softball and the Florida Knockouts (both New Port Richey) – and two play out of North Pinellas – Team FLA (Palm Harbor) and the Tampa Wildcats (Dunedin).

Moline – about 170 miles west of Chicago – will be hosting the seven game-laden days of softball, building up to the championship crescendo Sunday, Aug. 3. Organizers held an opening ceremony on Sunday evening to greet the teams and families before games began Monday morning at 8.

Following two days of pool play – two games played per team – the squads will fall into either a winner's or loser's double-elimination bracket.

Some notable area participants in this year's tournament are:

Bash Softball - Sarah Simon (River Ridge), Samantha Stahl (River Ridge), Olivia Kline (Mitchell), Jessica Tamburri (River Ridge), Kaleigh Hall (River Ridge), Michelle McKonly (River Ridge), Allison Summers (Mitchell) and Jamie McCullough (Gulf).

Tampa Wildcats – Amber Ehlers (Dunedin), Ashley Ehlers (Dunedin), Devin Fellman (Gulf), Danielle Fennimore (Hudson), Danielle Wright (Countryside), Kayla Saastamoinen (Mitchell) and Jennifer Hunter (Tarpon Springs).

Florida Knockouts - Ciara Seymour (Mitchell), Cortney Radke (Mitchell), Heather Muccino (Mitchell), Hannah Gatley (Mitchell), Mariah Weingarten (Palm Harbor), Abby Hess (East Lake), Sarah Schutz (East Lake), Jessica Santoli (Gulf) and Stephanie Palazzolo (Mitchell).

Eric Horchy can be reached at ehorchy@suncoastnews.com or 727-815-1071

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