Shown are the Cedartown Xtreme 14-and-under team after winning a tournament in Cartersville. On the front row, from left, are Lily Head, Ally Dodd, Tricia White, Lizzie Lee, Keri Windom, McKenzie Brown and Amber Timms. On the middle row, from left, are Katrina Harris, Kaylee Hurston, Savannah Shaddinger, Baylee Wright and Natalie Hardy. On the back row, from left, are coaches Junior Timms, Chad Loveless, Shane Lee. Not pictured are Skylar Rogers and Halee Blackmon. (Contributed photo)
After finishing the 12-and-under softball season in August, the Xtreme immediately began working to put together a 14-and-under squad.
“We returned seven players from the 12-and-under team and we needed to find some really talented players for the other open roster spots,” head coach Shane Lee said. “We would hold try outs, individual workouts, and we traveled to watch players in their middle school and junior varsity games all over northwest Georgia.”
Lee said that experience was very rewarding.
“We have enjoyed this process and getting to know the players and their families,” Lee said. “We had over 40 players from August through October either try out, workout individually or have us come watch them play, because they wanted to be a part of the Xtreme.”
On Nov. 3, the Xtreme – with players from Cedartown, Rome, Dallas and Mt. Zion – participated in their first 14-and-under tournament. The tournament was the 2012 GSA Fall World Series at Deerlick Park in Douglasville.
The Xtreme went 3-1 at the tournament to finish third overall.
In their first game, the Xtreme beat the Monster Fastpitch squad 5-1 to move into the winner’s bracket. The Xtreme would fall to the Atlanta Flames 5-4 in their second contest, but then bounced back to beat the West Georgia Bullets of Bremen 5-4.
That victory led them to a game against the Southern Misses from Cedartown.
“This game had bragging rights attached to it,” Lee said. “The Xtreme and Southern Misses both have at least half of their team that goes to Cedartown Middle School.”
The Southern Misses jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, however the Xtreme rallied back to win the contest 6-2.
“This was a great game on the field,” Lee said. “The players and coaches gave 100 percent the entire game for both teams.”
The win ended the day for the Xtreme, as they placed third in their first 14-and-under tournament.
With some experience in an older age group behind them, the Xtreme went to Carverill on Nov. 17 and won the GSA tournament championship at Dellinger Park.
The Xtreme won the tournament opener over the Kenworth Bandits, 5-1. In game two, the Xtreme fell to the Icehawks 5-2.
“We had a few costly errors that we are not use to making that really hurt us,” Lee said.
In game three, the Xtreme bounced back to roll to a 9-4 win over the West Georgia Bullets from Bremen.
“The bats were hot, our fielding was solid and the base running was aggressive,” Lee said. “It was great to see these young ladies bounce back from a loss and play together and give great effort and a good attitude.”
In their next contest, the Xtreme steamrolled the Forsyth Fury 10-0 to advance to the championship game.
In the championship contest, the Xtreme clipped the IceHawks 3-2 to win the tournament title.
“This game was one of the most intense games we have been involved in,” Lee said. “The pitcher from the IceHawks is the fastest pitcher we have faced. She was hitting 60 miles per hour and higher on the radar gun. I was very excited to see our girls get in the box and battle for hits and not allow her to intimidate them.”
Members of the Xtreme team are Keri Windom, McKenzie Brown, Natalie Hardy, Skylar Rogers, Kaylee Hurston, Savannah Shaddinger, Halee Blackmon, Amber Timms, Katrina Harris, Baylee Wright, Lily Head, Ally Dodd, Tricia White and Lizzie Lee.
Joining Lee on the coaching staff are Chad Loveless and Junior Timms.
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