American Fastpitch Association Southwestern Nationals
August 27-31: St. George, Utah
The AZ Thundercats 12U team went 5-0 in championship play to collect the Silver Championship at the American Fastpitch Association (AFA) Southwestern Nationals played in St. George, Utah.
After going 1-2 in pool play on Thursday and Friday, the youth fastpitch team from the Tucson area outscored their opponents 46 to 6 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The team beat Nemesis Elite – Slater 5-1 in the first game on Monday and then 11-1 in the final after the team from Downey, California beat Cen Cal Blast 6-5 in the Elimination Bracket.
“Amazing, we have worked all year for this,” Aniyah Jaiman said (with help from Jianna Cota, Alyssa Torres, Maya Fimbres and Bella Corona). “We all came together when we needed too. All of our hard work paid off and we feel great to have come this far as a team.”
POOL PLAY
THURSDAY, AUG. 27
I-5 Softball (CA) 10, Thundercats 6
Thundercats 14, California Gold 4
FRIDAY, AUG. 28
So Cal Choppers 9, Thundercats 2
SILVER BRACKET
SATURDAY, AUG. 29
Thundercats 8, Corona Angels 0
SUNDAY, AUG. 30
Thundercats 10, OC Flames 1
Thundercats 12, Cen Cal Blast 0
MONDAY, AUG. 31
Thundercats 5, Nemesis Elite (CA) 1
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Thundercats 11, Nemesis Elite (CA) 4
TEAM ROSTER
-Taylor Baca
-Anyssa Bojorquez
-Bella Corona
-Jianna Cota
-Isabella Espinoza
-Maya Fimbres
-Aniyah Jaiman
-Arexianna Montaño
-Isabel Otero
-Izabel Rodriguez
-Alyssa Torres
-Alexa Yarger
Head Coach
-Laura Espinoza-Watson
Assistants
-Melissa Espinoza
-JR Bojorquez
-TJ Otero
-Tony Baca
FOLLOW @ANDYMORALES8 ON TWITTER
Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017, a 2019 AZ Education News award winner and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019 and he is a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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