14A Blaze wins ASA state title

The Beaverton Valley Times, Jul 17, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

submitted photo

STATE CHAMPS — Players and coaches from the 14A Beaverton Blaze team pose with their banner after winning the ASA state championship.

BEAVERTON – The Beaverton Blaze 14A softball team won the 14A Amateur Softball Association (ASA) state championship last weekend in Springfield, outscoring their opponents by a combined 34-5 to go undefeated in five games. The state title marked the second for coaches Scott Kellar and Riki Terada.

“Winning a second state title with this team is awesome,” Kellar said. “These girls focus on a goal and won’t let up until they achieve it. I’m proud of each one of them. This is a great indication of the team peaking for Nationals in two weeks.”

The state tournament was held at Bob Artz Memorial Park in Springfield with the Blaze-Kellar team beating Oregon Blaze-Garcia for the title. Beaverton Blaze-Bowman finished fourth at the tournament. Both Beaverton Blaze teams qualified for 14A ASA Nationals to be held in Midland, Texas, in early August.

And through it all, the team has relied on an unusual source of inspiration – Chuck Norris.

“Inspiration comes in all forms,” Terada said. “One of the players had a Chuck Norris joke book and they got a kick (no pun intended) out of it. They were inspired by the fact he never loses. So now on the mound, you’ll hear the team cheer ‘BLAZE’, followed by a quiet ‘Chuck,’ followed by a roundhouse kick.”

Team members are Rebecca Baglai, Brianna Bain, Sammi Coates, Grace Coburn, Molly Halstead, Bailey Kasler, Tabby Kellar, Michelle Oenning, Serenil Sierra, Katie Stonesifer and Leslie Terada with assistant coaches Larry Oenning and John Coburn.

The team is represented by players from Aloha, Beaverton, Valley Catholic, Century, Sherwood and Southridge high schools, and the Arts & Communications Magnet Academy.

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