On Sunday, June 20, the 16U Kansas City Lasers took home the 1st place trophy for the AFA 18U National Qualifier Tournament held at Johnson County Girls Athletic Association complex. The Lasers beat the Desoto Belles 4-0 in the championship game of the single elimination tournament.
On Friday and Saturday, the Lasers finished first in their four-team pool and then won four more games on Sunday as they advanced through the single elimination bracket play. Six of their eight opponents were held scoreless by the Lasers stingy defensive play.
With this tournament victory, the team of eleven 16 year olds and one fifteen year old have now qualified to play in three national tournaments this summer. They will be traveling to Marietta, Georgia the second week in August to compete in the ASA 16U nationals for the second consecutive year. They are returning after finishing in fifth place in 1998 out of the 81-team field. Additionally, their other two qualifier championships this year have earned them the opportunity to play in NSA and AFA 18U National Tournaments this summer.
To date, the girls have recorded a team fielding average of .920 and team batting average of .260 as well as a 0.51 ERA. They have recorded 38 wins and 9 losses and have scored 192 runs to only 45 by their opponents.
1999 Kansas City Lasers 16U team members, their hometowns and high schools are:
Bree Beattie | Olathe, KS | Olathe East High School |
Katie Gregg | Raymore, MO | Raymore Peculiar High School |
Sydney Halbhuber | Raymore, MO | Raymore Peculiar High School |
Kim Herriott Woodson | Kansas City, KS | Shawnee Mission Northwest High School |
Katherine Hoffman | Overland Park, KS | Notre Dame de Sion High School |
Carly Lang | Overland Park, KS | Olathe East High School |
Heather Maggard | Blue Springs, MO | Blue Springs High School |
Kendra Power | Overland Park, KS | Shawnee Mission Northwest High School |
Jackie Sells | Lee's Summit, MO | Lee's Summit High School |
Keri Tanner | Overland Park, KS | Olathe East High School |
Tracie Tiensvold | Independence, MO | Truman High School |
Katie Wienke | Lee's Summit, MO | Lee's Summit High School |
