A local club softball team has qualified for the Amateur Softball Association of America's national tournament.
The AZ Cats 94 14-and-under fastpitch squad won the right to advance to the Marietta, Ga.-based competition by finishing second in the National Hall of Fame Tournament in Oklahoma City on June 10-12.
The Cats, the only team representing Arizona, went 5-2 in the national tournament, losing twice to eventual champions, the Ohio Slammers. They defeated teams from Georgia, Illinois and two from California at the event.
While the Cats draw softball prospects from across the state, Oro Valley and Marana contribute heavily, wrapping up six of the 15 roster spots.
Slated to attend traditional prep powerhouse Canyon Del Oro are the Cats' Kayla Bonstrom and Sammy Nettling.
Ironwood Ridge varsity players, freshmen Jordan Rocker and Lauren Robinson, and future Nighthawk Sarah Rodriguez provided much-needed offense and defense to the Cats.
Future Mountain View Mountain Lion Ashley Rivera rounded out the Northwest side's contribution to the team.
Bonstrom, Rocker and Robinson are scheduled to graduate high school in 2012, Rivera and Rodriguez will finish in 2013, while Nettling's prep career ends in 2014.
Bonstrom, Rodriguez, Robinson, and Rocker were also key components in the Pusch Ridge Little League squad that won a championship at last year's Little League World Series in Washington.
The team is seeking donations to offset the travel costs of competing nationally.
For more information, contact head coach Phil Fileccia at phillip_fileccia@yahoo.com or 304-4692, or Bill Nettling at bnettling@comcast.net and/or 331-3737.
