Manassas Blaze capture 14U national crown

The USSSA national tournament at Disney World this year has proven to be kind to to Prince William County with at least one of its travel youth baseball teams, the 11U SBA Orioles, finishing in the top half.

Well, not to be outdone, the 14AU Manassas Blaze headed down to Florida at the end of July and scorched a path of their own to victory, capturing the prestigious championship title at the most competitive, by-invitation-only event in travel youth softball, the USSSA Fastpitch World Series.

Nokesville's Kaitlin Munda earned the "Outstanding Pitcher" of the double-elimination tournament award while her teammate Rebecca Hall of Fairfax earned MVP honors. The Blaze's (37-13) victory became their third tournament win of the year, having won the two qualifiers earlier that included the Northern Virginia Spring Opener in April and the Maverick June Jam on June 19. Manassas also finished second at the BRYC Stingrays Classic and the USSSA Virginia state tournament.

"We just played well as a team and came together as a team," said Blaze manager Mike Windle.

Munda (7-1 overall in tournament) and fellow pitcher Taylor Davidson (3-0), both former Fauquier Fury members, pitched a combined 11 games for Manassas. They used a similar approach inside the circle, according to Windle, with Munda throwing "just a bit harder" while Davidson hit her spots "better."

"They're both very talented pitchers, up and coming pitchers," said the coach.

He described Munda as "power" pitcher while Davidson's pitch of choice turned out to be "probably something high and away." Speaking of Davidson, he said she "hits her spots very well and she was getting them chasing the high pitches." Her strategy was to get ahead early in the count with her fastball and "go upstairs" from there.

"She's like a Greg Maddox," said Windle, referring to the former Major League Baseball great and future hall of famer. "She just puts it where you want it."

During the tournament, Manassas come out on top in four out of five one-run ball games, including the opening round against the Oklahoma Magic when Davidson ended up being on the winning side of a 3-2 match.

The Blaze took the next six games before the Churchville Lightning outlasted the team from Virginia in a 2-1 pitcher's duel, marking Munda's only loss of the tournament.

To rebound, the Blaze racked up 11 runs to win by eight over the Virginia Lady Eagles, which put them in the finals against Churchville. Needing two wins, Munda picked up both, including a 3-2 extra-inning victory requiring the international tiebreaker, which places a runner on second base to start each half of the inning.

That's where three players who all reside in Manassas stepped up to help the Blaze clinch a berth in the tournament final. With Zoe Patrick as the lead runner, Heather Davies bunted her over to third base. Brittany Coffey then grabbed hero-of-the-day honors by cranking a shot to centerfield by the fence that scored Patrick from third for the game-winner.

Coffey also supported Munda and Taylor behind the plate throughout the year as catch, earning a "good reputation with the pitchers," Windle explained. "She calmed them down."

The final ended up being a little smoother of a ride as the Blaze captured the big crown with a 9-4 win. The win marked the last Blaze game for Patrick, Davies, Hall and Manassas-based centerfielder Jessica South as they're all set to move up to different levels and different teams next year.

"We've still got good pitching and we've still got good catching," said Windle, noting the team is losing its top four hitters. "It'll be interesting to see how we play now offensively."