It was Davis Youth Softball Association year-end play at its best as the Red Flames (U8), Green Hornets (U10) and the Ninja Turtles (U12) all took division championships at the Barry Garrison Memorial Tournament at Playfields Park.

A closer look at the under-12 competition …

Sophie Mae Bertain pitched four solid innings, went 2-for-2 at the plate and scored four runs as the Turtles sneaked past the Orange Crush, 14-13.

Caitlyn Miller, who was 3-for-3, also scored four times and closed out the game in the circle.

Catching every inning of the tourney, Abbey Fisk was 4-for-4 with a double and scored a run, while playing brilliantly behind the plate.

Jessica Christopulos (2-for-5) scored twice and was dazzling on defense, including a catch that kept the score tied in the sixth inning.

Katrina Toups drove in Kelly Ostrom with the go-ahead run in the seventh.

For the Crush, Taylor Trinidad, Lauren Tull and Kamiah Jensen all contributed to rallies, while Lili Kunimoto’s big hit scored Hallie Tobia to tie the see-saw game in the third frame.

Abby Sutcliffe contributed a couple of big hits and was strong at catcher.

Lauren Aquino and Tull were solid on the base paths and in the field and Juliana Moore, Kaylee Velasquez and Shauna Wallace all played well at first.

“It didn’t really matter where we were in our lineup … we had as many rallies started at the bottom of our order as at the top,” said Crush coach Tom Hall. “I think the depth of our talent was the key to our success this year.”

To get to the finals, the Ninja Turtles beat the Crush earlier, 13-12, then both the Crush and Turtles stopped the Golden Girls in back-to-back games.

“The level of play for this tournament — especially the championship game — was outstanding,” said Turtles coach Lyn Christopulos. “There girls were focused and intense … both teams were equally deserving of victory.

“That last game was really a great game to be a part of … for pure drama and excellent sportsmanship.

“I think all the girls earned a lot of respect for each other.”

In the Under-8 Division the Flames burned bright.

Led by pitchers Bella Hyder and Madison Rutherford, the Red Flames won their three weekend games by a combined 24-2.

Limiting teams to only three hits in the first two contests, Hyder and Rutherford were again strong in the circle as the Flames won the title tilt, 12-2, over the Giants.

Notable tournament performances came from Jane Rachway, Veronica Roe, Paige LaCoste and Emily Azevedo at the plate and by Ada Freese, Lauren Lee, Chloe Adams and Shelby Harry afield.

Emma Catacutan was 3-for-3 in the championship game and Olivia Dirksen and Sophia Fucile each had two safeties.

Catacutan also pitched well, with Fucile sharp in relief.

Addi Magness’ great fielding got the Giants out of a bases-loaded jam and Hana Lamborn fought off a huge black bee in right field, courageously staying in the game.

Dirksen and Caroline Brennan pitched late, as well.

In other U8 tournament games …

Blue Devils 6, Stingers 5 — Bianca Seed doubled, tripled and singled while scoring twice and Stella Cardenas doubled and scored twice for the winners.

Seed and Lindsay Taylor were strong in the circle and Jane Garvin excelled in the field.

Giants 5, Blue Devils 0 — Audrey Teresi (2-for-3), Caroline Brennan (2-for-3) and Olivia Dirksen led the Giants hitters with Emma Catacutan posting three innings of stellar pitching.

Bianca Seed and Lindsay Taylor were solid at the plate and Stella Cardenas and Taylor were masterful in the circle. Elise Wyman turned in a couple of web gems.

Giants 5, Junior Mints 4 — Scoring three times in the first inning, the Giants survived a four-run third frame by the Mints to get the win.

Caroline Brennan, Hana Lamborn, Dana Joung and Audrey Teresi had two hits apiece for the winners and Emma Catacutan was again solid in the circle.

Joung and Alexa Folb were terrific on defense.

In U10 division action …

The Green Hornets won a slugfest as they collected 16 hits and topped the Mini Blue Devils, 14-9, for the title.

Led by three singles from Mia Gladding, the Hornets also had two hits each from Alyssa Lee, Katie Gibson, Lily Heilman, Sophie Purves and Lizzy Jones.

Adrienne Gee, Kat Eisele and Mady Winans added singles.

Gee, Molly Burke, Maya Wood and Marissa Thompson performed well defensively.

The Devils’ Grace Hickerson doubled twice, singled and scored a couple of runs in the close contest. Layla Fitch and Brooke Martin (two singles each) paced the offense and hits by Surina Beal, Rachael Bernauer and Daniela Lane and two runs by Eve Brunette kept the pressure on.

Emma Dean, Beal and Hickerson pitched well and Maya Nunes and Mya Kajley were tough afield.

Angry Birds 13, Those Guys 2 — Starting pitcher Isabel Rubalcaba fanned four and allowed only two runs in four innings on the mound as the Birds cruised.

Paige Ochoa and Grace Hartsough each had two hits and Grace Harrison, Ellery McIsaac and Lauren Wilcox all added hits.

Cate Scheuring was stellar behind the plate, Rubalcaba turned an unassisted double play and Megan Mullin, Anni Hill and Tyler Schoemaker scored in the win.

Sarah Needles led Those Guys at the plate and in the circle, while Jazmin Roberts, Katie Stachowicz and Brooke Imamoto played well in the field. Clara Ault and Noa Lispon caught the game.

Mini Blue Devils 14, Those Guys 5 — Grace Hickerson was 3-for-3 with a double and Brooke Martin had three singles for the Devils.

Emma Dean doubled and singled and Surina Beal tallied three runs.

Eve Brunette, Maya Nunes, Georgia Eastham and Rachael Bernauer each had a hit and scored and Layla Fitch and Mya Kajley added to the offensive onslaught.

Nunez started a double play and Hickerson and Beal were terrific in the circle.

Brooke Imamoto, Tess McIntyre, Katie Borowsky and Alicia Perez were on fire with the bats for Those Guys, while Mei McConnell, Jazmin Roberts, Emily Sutcliffe and Caroline Korinke shined with their gloves.

Mini Blue Devils 7, Angry Birds 6 — Brooke Martin (3-for-3, run) and Grace Hickerson (2-for-2, triple, two runs) paced the Devil batters.

Georgia Eastham and Layla Fitch both went 2-for-2 with two tallies and Surina Beal, Eve Brunette and Emma Dean all added hits.

Beal pitched six solid innings, fanning six and Maya Nunes, Rachael Bernauer, Daniela Lane and Mya Kajley defended well.

Ellery McIsaac provided a key triple and single for the Birds and Grace Harrison was 2-for-3.

Tyler Schoemaker, Miya Johnston, Grace Hartsough, Isable Rubalcaba and Lauren Wilcox all had singles.

Rubalcaba went four strong frames pitching and Paige Ochoa fanned four in her two innings of work. Megan Mullin and Anni Hill cleaned up in the field on defense.

Green Hornets 11, Mini Blue Devils 5 — Katie Gibson had three hits, Kat Eisele and Lily Heilman added doubles and Alyssa Yee, Mady Winans and Mia Gladding contributed at the plate for the winners.

Molly Burke, Gladding, Maya Wood, Adrienne Gee, Marissa Thompson and Lizzy Jones combined to make for an air-tight defense.

Surina Beal and Grace Hickerson had two Blue Devil hits each and Emma Dean smacked a triple. Brooke Martin and Rachael Bernauer also tapped safeties.

Green Hornets 8, Angry Birds 7 — Kat Eisele, Katie Gibson, Molly Burke, Lily Heilman and Adrienne Gee were all heads-up on the bases, making the difference for the Hornets.

Heilman, Alyssa Yee and Eisele combined in the circle, before Gibson got a two-out strikeout to save the win.

Grace Hartsough, Lauren Wilcox and Paige Ochoa kept the Angry Birds alive with doubles, while Grace Harrison, Ellery McIsaac and Miya Johnston stroked key singles.

Harrison hurled three strong innings, recording six strikeouts.

Cate Scheuring was a monster behind the plate and Tyler Schoemaker, Anni Hill and Megan Mullin were slick afield.

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The Green Hornets’ defense nearly nabs Those Guys runner Katie Stachowicz at first base in a Davis Youth Softball Association game earlier this season. The Green Hornets took the U10 title at the Barry Garrison Memorial Tournament last weekend. Courtesy photo

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