A growing fire: Valley's Flame Fastpitch club starts season with Icebreaker wins

 Maddy Trout, a seventh grader at Twin Falls Middle School, tags a runner out for her Flame Fastpitch 99
Courtesy photo
Maddy Trout, a seventh grader at Twin Falls Middle School, tags a runner out for her Flame Fastpitch 99' team, in tournament play in April

May 15, 2012 · 1:18 PM

The Flame Fastpitch girls softball club sent four teams to the Tri-Cities April 26 to 27 to compete in one of the largest fastpitch softball tournaments in the state. The non-traditional Icebreaker draws top teams from Washington, Oregon and Idaho for a round-robin tournament with no designated champion.

The newly expanded Flame Fastpitch program had a good showing, although three of the teams had just formed this year. Combined, the four Flame teams racked up 12 wins over the two-day event with one team scoring 57 runs in their six games.

“Our presence and success this past weekend at the Tri-Cities Icebreaker tournament was highly rewarding and exciting for the organization," said Steve Benjamin, Flame Fastpitch president.

The Flame Fastpitch organization grew from the old Issaquah Flame, which began seven years ago as a club program for talented local softball players.

The program expanded last year, from the success and hard work of the Issaquah Flame ’99 team coached by Marty Abraham, Tom Kauzlarich and Greg Erwin, into four teams, representing 10U, 12U & 14U age levels.

“For years we have discussed expanding our one team into a thriving, successful softball organization. With talented players, dedicated volunteers and a structured plan, we are thrilled to start the 2012 season with four solid, competitive Flame Fastpitch teams,” said executive director and head coach Marty Abraham.

For more information on the Flame Fastpitch Club, or to follow any of the Flame Fastpitch teams visit their web-site at www.flamefastpitch.org.

 

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