IYAA division tournaments conclude; district tournaments next

Image: Jamie McIntyre eyes the competition during tournament play — Jamie McIntyre helps Italy’s 15 & Under Girls softball team get second place in the division tournament.

Jamie McIntyre eyes the competition during tournament play — Jamie McIntyre helps Italy’s 15 & Under Girls softball team get second place in the division tournament. (Barry Byers)

Image: Glove five — Catcher Mary Tate, pitcher Jaclynn Lewis, shortstop Bailey Eubank and first baseman Sa’Kendra Norwood keep each other pumped up after getting an out against Itasca.

Glove five — Catcher Mary Tate, pitcher Jaclynn Lewis, shortstop Bailey Eubank and first baseman Sa’Kendra Norwood keep each other pumped up after getting an out against Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: Take that! — Pitcher Jaclynn Lewis fires a strike across the plate.

Take that! — Pitcher Jaclynn Lewis fires a strike across the plate. (Barry Byers)

Image: Maddog — Third baseman Madison Washington battles the sun as well as Itasca.

Maddog — Third baseman Madison Washington battles the sun as well as Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jac-attack — Jaclynn Lewis keeps the fast balls coming against Itasca.

Jac-attack — Jaclynn Lewis keeps the fast balls coming against Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach advises — Coach Doug Nelson gives advice to Mary Tate before she goes up to bat.

Coach advises — Coach Doug Nelson gives advice to Mary Tate before she goes up to bat. (Barry Byers)

Image: Norwood’s on 1st — First baseman Sa’Kendra Norwood is a vocal leader for the Lady Gladiators.

Norwood’s on 1st — First baseman Sa’Kendra Norwood is a vocal leader for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Advantage batter — Being a pitcher herself, Jaclynn Lewis knows what to look for from the opposition.

Advantage batter — Being a pitcher herself, Jaclynn Lewis knows what to look for from the opposition. (Barry Byers)

Image: Close play — Itasca made the plays they needed as slap hitter Bailey Eubank can’t quite beat the throw before reaching first base.

Close play — Itasca made the plays they needed as slap hitter Bailey Eubank can’t quite beat the throw before reaching first base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Eyes on the ball — Catcher Mary Tate displayed toughness for Italy’s 15 & Under Lady Gladiators softball team surviving two collisions at the plate against Itasca.

Eyes on the ball — Catcher Mary Tate displayed toughness for Italy’s 15 & Under Lady Gladiators softball team surviving two collisions at the plate against Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey bats — Bailey DeBorde tries to put one over the Itasca infielders.

Bailey bats — Bailey DeBorde tries to put one over the Itasca infielders. (Barry Byers)

Image: Nelson’s ready — Kelsey Nelson is versatile playing multiple positions during the tournament.

Nelson’s ready — Kelsey Nelson is versatile playing multiple positions during the tournament. (Barry Byers)

Image: And Twins! — Twin brothers Austin and Aaron Pittmon look confident before Italy’s rematch with Whitney.

And Twins! — Twin brothers Austin and Aaron Pittmon look confident before Italy’s rematch with Whitney. (Barry Byers)

Image: Levi pitches well — Levi McBride goes the distance against Whitney to help Italy win 17-5 before the 6th inning.

Levi pitches well — Levi McBride goes the distance against Whitney to help Italy win 17-5 before the 6th inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: Dusty, but safe! — With rain clouds on the horizon, Ty Windham creates a dust storm by sliding home to score a run against Whitney.

Dusty, but safe! — With rain clouds on the horizon, Ty Windham creates a dust storm by sliding home to score a run against Whitney. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lil’ bit lucky — Kevin “Lil’ K” Johnson draws attention to himself and gets in a run down between third base and home. Johnson eventually crossed the plate for a score standing up.

Lil’ bit lucky — Kevin “Lil’ K” Johnson draws attention to himself and gets in a run down between third base and home. Johnson eventually crossed the plate for a score standing up. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Intimidator — Aaron Pittmon shifts on his back leg before the pitch.

The Intimidator — Aaron Pittmon shifts on his back leg before the pitch. (Barry Byers)

Image: Brandon scores — Brandon Connor scores to help Italy win the rematch against Whitney 17-5.

Brandon scores — Brandon Connor scores to help Italy win the rematch against Whitney 17-5. (Barry Byers)

Image: Levi gets the win — Pitcher Levi McBride goes the whole way against Whitney to get the win. The effort by McBride allowed pitcher/first baseman Ty Windham to take the slope against Itasca with a fresh arm.

Levi gets the win — Pitcher Levi McBride goes the whole way against Whitney to get the win. The effort by McBride allowed pitcher/first baseman Ty Windham to take the slope against Itasca with a fresh arm. (Barry Byers)

Image: Count it! — Brandon Connor slides across the plate against Itasca in game two.

Count it! — Brandon Connor slides across the plate against Itasca in game two. (Barry Byers)

Image: Dramatic play — Levi McBride tries leaping over Itasca’s catcher in a gutsy attemt to give Italy the lead late in the game. Itasca’s catcher displayed guts as well and held on to the ball for an out.

Dramatic play — Levi McBride tries leaping over Itasca’s catcher in a gutsy attemt to give Italy the lead late in the game. Itasca’s catcher displayed guts as well and held on to the ball for an out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ken Norwood — Shortstop Kenneth Norwood belted a homerun and a bases loaded triple in game one against Whitney and 3-run triple that knocked Whitney out of the tournament in their second meeting.

Ken Norwood — Shortstop Kenneth Norwood belted a homerun and a bases loaded triple in game one against Whitney and 3-run triple that knocked Whitney out of the tournament in their second meeting. (Barry Byers)

Image: Line of fire — What opposing batters see when Ty Windham delivers a strike.

Line of fire — What opposing batters see when Ty Windham delivers a strike. (Barry Byers)

Image: Connor catches — Catcher Ryan Connor had a solid tournament including tagging two Whitney runners out before they could make it to the plate in the rematch.

Connor catches — Catcher Ryan Connor had a solid tournament including tagging two Whitney runners out before they could make it to the plate in the rematch. (Barry Byers)

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