Four Blair softball players and their age 12 and younger Millard Fury team earned third July 21 during the 25-team USSSA Midwest National Championship tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.
Casey Mertz — the Defensive Tournament MVP — Emma Hernandez, Sophie Lyon and Ava Wacker helped their squad go 6-4 during the event. The Fury closed with back-to-back losses to the eventual champion Kansas Renegades, 3-0, and the Wichita (Kan.) Stars, 4-1, but not before it beat the NE Storm (4-3), Muskies Black (12-0), KC Phoenix MP (17-0), QC Firebirds (12-4), Iowa Blitz (15-1) and the Originals (3-2).
The Millard team closed the championship tournament with a 53-18-6 overall record, according to Travis Lyon. Roster members joining Mertz, Hernandez, Lyon and Wacker on the team are Vada Whisler, Mia Ledent, Brooklyn Collette, Linley Spohn, Presley Mohr, Macie Allan, Ava Clark and Gabby Sena, according to usssa.com. Coaches are Adam Collette, Donna Mertz and Lanett Whisler.