CASPER – The Torrington Thunder 10U, 12U and 14U girls’ softball teams captured six wins collectively at the Junior Olympics Girls Fastpitch Summer Kickoff Tournament in Casper on Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8.

The event opened with pool play on Saturday to determine each team’s rankings going into the bracket style playoffs on Sunday.

10U

The 10U Thunder team opened with a 14-10 victory against the Shockwave in Pool B on Saturday. A neck-and-neck first inning ended with Torrington ahead, 6-5.

The Thunder fielders held the Shockwave to five runs in the top of the second inning while Torrington clinched its win with eight runs in the bottom.

Josie G. set the pace for the Thunder offense against the Shockwave, posting one hit and four RBI. Jerra S. pitched for Torrington versus the Shockwave, striking out two.

The Thunder played the Wyoming Mystix as well on Saturday with Torrington coming up short, 13-7.

The 10U advanced to the first round of the playoffs to take on the Shockwave again. Both teams brought their A-games and battled to a 5-5 tie in the first inning. The game remained deadlocked, 10-10, at the end of the second inning.

The Shockwave outscored Torrington, 5-3, in the third inning to collect the win, 15-13.

Caylee M. led the Thunder offense against the Shockwave with one hit. Abigail A. and Rylen H. both pitched for the Thunder with Rylen H. striking out one.

12U

The Thunder 12U team swept the competition on the first day of the tournament, winning both games in Pool B. 

Torrington defeated the Valor Valkyrie in a close game, 5-4.

Squaring off against the Casper Rebels in the second game, the Thunder pulled ahead by three runs to secure a 9-6 victory.

Torrington’s undefeated record in Pool B resulted in a bye in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday.

Advancing to the second round, the Thunder overwhelmed the Casper Rebels, 12-2.

In the final game of the tournament, Torrington hit the field against the Blue Jays.

The first inning between the Thunder and Blue Jays ended in a scoreless deadlock. The Blue Jays took control of the scoreboard with one run in the bottom of the second inning while shutting out Torrington in the top.

The Blue Jays sealed their 7-0 win with five runs in the bottom of the third.

Torrington collected three hits against the Blue Jays, with Julia S., Regan N. and Lily L. each posting one. Regan N. opened as pitcher for Torrington, striking out one. Zaevrie R. pitched relief, striking out three.

14U

The 14U dominated the first day of the tournament with a 2-0 undefeated record in Pool A.

Torrington commenced play with a 10-6 victory over the Western Nebraska Fury.

Four runs by the Thunder in the bottom of the first inning and six additional runs in the second inning while Torrington’s fielders shut out the Fury in both innings clinched the win for the Thunder.

The Thunder posted nine hits against Western Nebraska. Emmelin Matlock collected two hits for two RBI. Katelyn Audette and Jadah Jacobsen also tallied two hits with one apiece by Makayla Burkart, Emily Audette and Willow Villamor.

Jacobsen pitched the first three innings for Torrington, striking out three. Jenica Steely came in as relief, striking out three in the fourth inning.

The Thunder went on to score a 19-9 win against the Casper Rebels in the second game of pool play. Torrington lay the foundation with an 11-0 run in the first inning. 

The Thunder posted 13 hits against the Rebels. Matlock paced the Torrington offense with three hits for three RBI. Kinley Fisher also picked up three hits. Emily Audette and Villamor both recorded two hits while Burkart and Steely contributed one.

Emily Audette opened as pitcher, striking out one. Burkart and Matlock played relief with Matlock striking out one.

Torrington’s undefeated record in pool play bought the team a bye in the first round of the bracket style playoffs on Sunday morning.

The Thunder stepped onto the field for another game against the Western Nebraska Fury. The first inning ended with the Fury ahead by only three runs, 7-4. Western Nebraska pulled ahead with 20 runs in the top of the second inning to take the win, 31-4.

Torrington collected seven hits against the Fury with Fisher posting two and one each from Jacobsen, Burkart, Steely, Emily Audette and Tori Fowler.

Jacobsen pitched the first 1.2 innings for Torrington, striking out one. Emily Audette and Steely both played relief with Audette striking out one.