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Fairhaven youth softball team is making history this summer

laurie los lee, standard-times
·4 min read

DARTMOUTH — What a difference a year makes.

Last July, the Fairhaven Firestorm 10U softball team lost all of its games in its first tournament, the 2022 Dartmouth Summer Blast.

This past weekend, Firestorm went undefeated in pool play and rallied twice to win the semifinals to reach the 10U championship game for the first time ever, but came up short to FreeLake 5-1 on Sunday at the 2023 Dartmouth Summer Blast at Quinn Elementary.

Firestorm coach Ryan Hemphill talks with his pitcher Sophia Almeida, catcher Zoey Hemphill, and infielders Mackenzie Lee, and Lexi Pequita during a visit to the mound.
Firestorm coach Ryan Hemphill talks with his pitcher Sophia Almeida, catcher Zoey Hemphill, and infielders Mackenzie Lee, and Lexi Pequita during a visit to the mound.

"So proud of how far they have come,” said Fairhaven head coach Brent Almeida. “I have coached some of these girls since T-ball and it is amazing how far they have come.  Both the girls and the families have been tremendous and I really couldn't ask for a better team.”

Last summer, Fairhaven competed in two tournaments and had just one win off a forfeit.

With the majority of the team back and some newcomers added, the Firestorm dedicated themselves to offseason training beginning last fall.

The hard work has paid off.

More: Fairhaven Acushnet Youth Baseball falls to Easton in Cal Ripken 12U state finals

Fairhaven Firestorm starting pitcher Sophia Almeida delivers during the third inning of her team's match up with the Dartmouth Dynamites on Friday evening. The Firestorm defeated the Dynamites 8-2 and Almeida was the winning pitcher tossing a complete game.
Fairhaven Firestorm starting pitcher Sophia Almeida delivers during the third inning of her team's match up with the Dartmouth Dynamites on Friday evening. The Firestorm defeated the Dynamites 8-2 and Almeida was the winning pitcher tossing a complete game.

In three tournaments this summer, Fairhaven is 8-5, including a 4-1 record at Dartmouth. Two of Fairhaven’s losses came against the undefeated Taunton Tornadoes at the Eddie Silvia Dighton Softball Tournament in June.

At Dartmouth, Fairhaven won its first three games by a combined score of 31-5, earning the second seed behind FreeLake, which had given up just four runs in its first three games while scoring 19.

Firestorm third baseman Mackenzie Lee follows the flight of her hard hit line drive down the first base line.
Firestorm third baseman Mackenzie Lee follows the flight of her hard hit line drive down the first base line.

In the tournament semifinals, the Firestorm fell behind 3-0 to Charlton only to rally to tie the game at three in the fourth inning. Charlton went up 5-3 in the top of the sixth and final inning, but Fairhaven came back with three runs to capture the thrilling 6-5 walk-off win over the defending tournament champions.

Sophia Almeida and Mackenzie Lee scored the first two runs of the inning and Zoey Hemphill had the game-winner on an RBI hit from Brianna Phaneuf.

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Firestorm second baseman Brianna Phaneuf settles under an infield pop up as Dartmouth Dynamite baserunner Kallie Donahue attempts to get back toward first base.
Firestorm second baseman Brianna Phaneuf settles under an infield pop up as Dartmouth Dynamite baserunner Kallie Donahue attempts to get back toward first base.

Lee went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored while Almeida was 0-for-1 with two walks and two runs scored. Hemphill was 1-for-2 with a walk, and run scored. Phaneuf went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Gabby Sadeck was 1-for-1 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Almeida pitched the first four innings while Phaneuf pitched the final two.

“For a team with almost all 9 year olds, it is awesome to see them competing in championship games in the 10U division,” Coach Almeida said. “The time and commitment that they put into it over the last year has been great and I cannot wait to see what the future holds."

Firestorm catcher Zoey Hemphill attempts to catch a pop up of an attempted bunt while plate umpire Steve Caton follows the play.
Firestorm catcher Zoey Hemphill attempts to catch a pop up of an attempted bunt while plate umpire Steve Caton follows the play.

Fairhaven’s team members include Almeida, Lee, Hemphill, Phaneuf, Sadeck, Mya Falaki, Blair Ferreira, Lexi Pequita, Savannah Sasville, Charlotte Sousa and Emma Leite. The coaches are Almeida, Ryan Hemphill and Ethan Pequita.

It was FreeLake’s first tournament title of the summer. The Flash had reached the finals in Dighton, but lost to Taunton.

Firestorm shortstop Lexi Pequita takes the throw from her catcher as Dartmouth Dynamite's Cameron Cote succesfully steals second base on Friday evening.
Firestorm shortstop Lexi Pequita takes the throw from her catcher as Dartmouth Dynamite's Cameron Cote succesfully steals second base on Friday evening.

Aubrey Camara pitched FreeLake to a complete-game victory over Fairhaven in the Dartmouth finals, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out 12 and walking six. Emma Holmes had two hits and three runs scored while Chloe Gussis had one hit and three RBIs. Madison Foye had one hit and one run scored and Trinity Ries had one hit and one RBI. Camara (hit), Rose Arruda (RBI) and Julia Salmond (run scored) also contributed.

The Flash beat the Northeast Lady Eagles 10-0 in the semifinals thanks to a no-hitter by Harper LaPierre, who struck out 11 in four innings.

The FreeLake 10U team won the championship at the Dartmouth Summer Blast.
The FreeLake 10U team won the championship at the Dartmouth Summer Blast.

FreeLake’s team members include Camara, Holmes, Arruda, Reis, Gussis, LaPierre, Salmond, Abigail Smith, Mali Chu, Madison Foye, Grace Yermalovich, Raegan Fiano, Leah Norton and Emilee Palmer. FreeLake is coached by Leah Holmes, Mallory Reis and David Cropley.

Against FreeLake, Phaneuf drove in Almeida for Fairhaven's lone run. Sasville pitched the first two innings, allowing four runs. Lee came in relief and allowed one run in two innings.

Dartmouth 10U went 0-3 and did not qualify for Sunday's elimination play.

12U Division

The Dartmouth Dynamites Green were the runner-ups in the 12U division, going 4-1 throughout the tournament with their lone loss coming in the championship game to Tewksbury (16-3). Dartmouth Green beat the FreeLake Flash 12-10, Seekonk Warriors 11-9, Dighton Chaos 20-4 and Billerica Braves 15-8.

The Dartmouth Dynamites Gold 12U ended up at 2-2.  They beat Seekonk 7-3 and Dighton 17-3, but lost to SwampBats 9-6 and Tewksbury 7-3.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Fairhaven youth softball team having a summer to remember