Roseville Thunder Red recorded two big victories over reputable Southern California softball teams on its way to a tie for seventh place in the 14U Class B Girls Fast Pitch Western Nationals last week at Maidu Park.

The team went 6-3 in the tournament that featured 41 teams from California, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming and Hawaii. Two big victories came over Oceanside (6-0) and Santee (6-5 in eight innings).

Head coach David Lozano said Oceanside went into the tournament having won six of seven tournaments, and Santee also entered the event with a strong reputation.

“We were only four steps away from that championship,” Lozano said. “We were real close.”

There was nothing close about the balls Mimi Anderson and Justine Garner hit for Roseville. Anderson hit three home runs over the 200-foot fences, and Garner hit two.

Playing its ninth game in five days, Roseville finally ran out of gas against the Eugene (Ore.) Thunder in an 8-7 loss. Roseville led 7-2 going into the last inning.

~ Bill Poindexter