By Bruce Warren

The Niwot Thunder 12's and the Niwot Thunder 10's each took home second place trophies in the 1st Annual Left Hand Grand Slam Girls Fastpitch Softball Tournament June 25-26.

The 12 & Under Thunder Team won all three games in pool play to earn the number one seed in the "A" Division of the tournament. The 10 & Under Thunder Team finished third in pool play, then advanced to the finals in the "B" Division of the 12 & Under tournament. The 10 & Under team was playing up due to the scarcity of 10 & under tournament teams.

The Thunder 12's opened with a 10-6 win over Berthoud, a team they had lost to early in the season. Pitcher Amanda Wolfe was the game MVP. The next game was an 11-3 victory over coach Tom Buckett's Seagate team from Longmont. Pitcher Libby White was the MVP of the second game. The final game of pool play was an exciting 7-6 win over the Jeffco Lightning, with Wolfe again capturing MVP honors.

The 12's opened the elimination round with a 10-8 win over Seagate, marked by game MVP Dana Breyer's two homeruns. White was the winning pitcher while Wolfe picked up the save. In the championship game against the Lightning, Niwot ran out of gas. An 8 run second inning was the deciding frame as the Lightning won 14-4. Katie Warren was awarded game MVP for Niwot for her defensive play at first base.

Other Thunder 12's who had a fine tournament include Carly Potock, Jenny Kunches, Alexandra Lenaway, Kira Grush, Abby Allen, Amanda Scanlan, Allison Wolfe, Shannon DePuy and Maergreth Haines.

The Thunder 10's, sponsored by Second Avenue Hair Studio, drew eventual champion Mead in the first round of pool play, losing 22-1. Catcher Traci Thomson was awarded game MVP. In the second game, the Thunder came alive, beating Greeley 15-2. Leslie Parrish was the game MVP for the Thunder. In the third game of pool play, the Thunder lost to Longmont's McHugh Homes, 9-2. Pitcher Brie Helmuth was game MVP.

Sunday was a different story, however, as the Thunder 10's prevailed over Longmont 10-9. Carisa Janzen was named MVP for the Thunder. In the championship game, the 10's had a tough first inning, giving up 12 runs to Mead. Niwot battled but came out on the short end of a 17-1 score. Kelly Strong was named game MVP for the Thunder.

Other members of the second place Thunder included Whitney Rucker, Jennifer Alcala, Allyson Lee, Callan Quiram, Julie Bushe and Kelly Ganousis.

The tournament, sponsored by Chrisman Construction, Inc., was played at the Monarch Park Ballfields. Proceeds from the tournament will be used for field improvements.

Tournament Director Gary Alcala served as Umpire-in-Chief, working with Carl Yeomans and Bob Alcala to officiate the games. Parents served as the grounds crew and manned the concession stand for the 8-team tournament. NYS Co-Softball Directors Julie Breyer and Steve Wolfe termed the inaugural tournament an unqualified success. Plans are to increase the size of the tournament for next summer.