The Crushers girls fast pitch softball team won second place in a field of 56 teams from all over the nation in the 14 and under division of the USSSA World Series National Tournament in Orlando, Fla. The tourney was held at the Wide World of Disney Complex at Walt Disney World. The Crushers were undefeated until the final day of the tournament, winning three pool and four elimination games.

The team was defeated 7-3 in the final game by the Albuquerque, N.M. Sol. Highlights for the Crushers of the week-long tournament, which ran from July 27-Aug. 4, included a perfect game in pool play by Cortni Smeltzer with Lutcher resident Daphne Zimmer making a diving catch in right field.

Zimmer also played an error-free game as she played several positions to help the Crushers which included left and right field, first base, second base and third base. Several key hits by Zimmer and timely hitting by left fielder Allie Gammill and designated hitter Caitlyn Haines scored runs to help the team. In the game against Kilgore, Texas, Zimmer, a sophomore at Riverside Academy in Reserve, scored the winning run in a 1-0 elimination game.

Leah Kaiser had a hit that sent Zimmer sliding into home plate for the win.

Key defesive plays by Ashley Ragan and a homerun by center fielder Joye Gautreaux scored several runs in the tournament.

Anna Lackie, who serves as lead pitcher for the Crushers, won the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

Team members and coaches, from left, bottom row, are Gautreaux, Smeltzer, Ragan, Zimmer and Gammill; second row: Mallory Hodges, Katie Mumphrey, Lackie, Haynes, Bree Rodriguez and Kaiser; third row: Jason Ragan, Treveor Ragan and head coach Jay Smeltzer. Not pictured are coaches Todd Rodriguez and Henry Williams.