Entering the Canadian Under-14 Girls Fastpitch Jamboree, the coaches of the host Victoria Devils B次元官网网址�01 and B次元官网网址�02 teams knew theyB次元官网网址檇 each be in tough to win a medal.

But when Sunday afternoon rolled around at Centennial Park in View Royal, players from both teams were proudly carrying around their bronze medals.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all ecstatic about it, because medalling, period, was an outside chance,B次元官网网址� said Devils B次元官网网址�01 head coach and tournament chair Paddy Strandlund, after his team dropped an 11-7 decision to the Delta Heat in the loserB次元官网网址檚 bracket final of the Cup division.

B次元官网网址淲e both didnB次元官网网址檛 finish in the medals in the provincials, so we were on the lower side of the B.C. teams in both divisions.B次元官网网址�

In a Cup final that was a repeat matchup and result of the B.C. final, Surrey Storm B次元官网网址�01 downed Delta 2-1 in nine innings.

Having chipped away and built a 6-3 lead by the fifth inning against the Heat, the Devils B次元官网网址�01 looked ready to vault themselves into the final and a rematch with Surrey, who had shut them out 7-0 in the morning winnerB次元官网网址檚 bracket final.

But Delta, eager to avenge the 10-3 loss handed them by Victoria in the playoff opener, scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 7-6. The Devils got one back to tie it in the top of the sixth when Jessica Strandlund reached on an error and Kylie Katz and Hallie Holland pounded back-to-back singles.

The Heat stayed hot in their half of the inning, opening with six straight singles and scoring four more times to take an 11-7 lead that held up.

B次元官网网址淲e had the chance, but anything can happen in an at bat. Somebody gets on base, a ball drops in,B次元官网网址� Strandlund said.

Izzy Snow and Katz shared pitching duties for the Devils, while starter Meghan Hendrickson gave way to Janaya Basi in the top of the fifth for the Heat.

The B次元官网网址�01 Devils finished third in the Cup round robin standings with a 5-1 record, earning themselves two losses in the playoff draw. The lone blemish on their record was a 2-1 loss Friday to the Waterloo Ghosts, the top-ranked team from Ontario at the tournament.

Despite seeing his team lose a chance at at least a silver medal, Strandlund said, B次元官网网址淎ll of our coaches are happy. ItB次元官网网址檚 the best (the girls have) played ever. They rose for the Canadians, had an excellent week and weB次元官网网址檙e incredibly pleased with them.B次元官网网址�

First-year U15 Devils rally for playoffs

After a shaky round robin at Hyacinth Park saw them squeak into the Plate division playoffs with a 1-5 record, the Devils B次元官网网址�02 team reeled off two straight wins, 5-2 over Ontario Six Nations and 8-7 over Surrey Storm B次元官网网址�02, to reach the loserB次元官网网址檚 bracket final.

Eventual champion Tri-City Titans eliminated the Devils with a 9-2 loss at Centennial Park before beating White Rock Renegades 10-5 in the Plate final Sunday.

Strandlund was impressed with how the B次元官网网址�02 Devils rallied.

B次元官网网址淭hey came back, got their first win under their belt in the playoffs and they had a tough one against the eventual champion, but they played hard,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎fter a long week like this, itB次元官网网址檚 tough to finish it off strong. These guys are good.B次元官网网址�

Organization handles nationals well

The Victoria Fastball Club volunteer crew did a stellar job with the various details of hosting 15 out-of-town teams from as far away as Prince Edward Island for a national tournament, Strandlund said.

"We've had lots and lots of compliments on how it's been going," he said. "The field crew has been incredible led by Derrick Holland B次元官网网址� It's been very successful, and we're looking forward to hosting another one, but not next year."

Click to find a photo collage from the tournament.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com