This weekend saw the California Crushers (Burbank) girl's fastpitch softball team travel to Orange County for the Huntington Beach Classic.

This Triple Crown tournament featured over 100 teams from four states and Canada, competing on an overcast day that was still warmer that most of the US.

The Crushers gathered at Murdy Park to prepare for a 1:45 p.m. game against North County Extreme ( San Diego). On the mound for the Crushers was Jenna Martin, with catcher Katie Budrick completing the battery.

At the top of the first inning, Extreme sent four batters to the plate against Martin but could only manage one hit and one runner left on base. The bottom of the first inning did not bode well for the Crushers as the first two batters struck out (no wonder the skies were dark).

Bri Casillas reached first base on a walk. Budrick stepped into the box hoping to move Casillas over. Budrick connected for a double on the fourth pitch and sent it toward left where the outfielder mishandled it. Budrick was able to turn the corners and crossed home plate for the score and an RBI.

The top of the second inning saw Extreme go down in order while the Crushers pushed across one more run. The third inning seemed like a repeat of the second as Extreme went down in order again (Martin recorded her third strike out of the game) while the Crushers scored a single run. After three innings, the Crushers led Extreme 5 - 0.

The top of the fourth inning saw Extreme come to life, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs. The Crushers answered back in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Nicole Molin reached first base on a fielder's choice. Cassie Colón came up to bat, and on the second pitch powered a hit to left field that resulted in a home run.

With the score now 7 - 4, officials called the game, which had expired due to time limits. The sun may not have been shining, but it looked like a bright day for the Crushers.

The Crushers' second game of the day was one better left to the history books - something to be read but not experienced. The Crushers went up against the So Cal Pumas (Camarillo) and for two innings the game appeared to be a battle of the pitchers, who had recorded a total of 10 strike outs while facing 14 batters. The bottom of the third inning saw the So Cal Pumas score three runs on a towering home run to deep center field with two runners on base; the Crushers were unable to answer in their half of the third.

In the fourth inning, the So Cal Pumas sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring 11 runs. Martin had started her second game in a row, but at some point the coaches pulled her and sent Amy Leos to the mound. Leos, an outfielder and pitcher, was not "on" and the Pumas took advantage of her. Officials called the game under the mercy rules, so the Crushers headed home for the night. Sunday would end pool play and the Crushers were eager to redeem their performance with a win in the morning.

Sunday morning broke clear and sunny as the California Crushers took the field for an 8 a.m. start against the So Cal Batbusters (Lake Elsinore). The first inning was uneventful for both squads as they went down in order. At the top of the second inning, the #4 and #5 hitters for the Batbusters flew out to Leos in left field. The #7 batter legged out a double to wake up the Crushers, but the threat ended when the next batter struck out. During the bottom half of the second inning, the Crushers sent eight batters to the plate and pushed across three runs. This proved to be the long awaited wake up call for the Batbusters as they sent nine batters to the plate during the top half of the third inning, scoring five runs.

Not to be outscored, the Crushers responded with two more runs in their half of the inning. As they entered the top of the fourth inning, the Crushers found themselves tied 5 - 5. Throughout this game, pitcher Chantel Bevard faced down the Batbusters and the fourth inning was no different as she took them down in order. Time was running out and the Crushers needed to take the lead or face an international tiebreaker. Brianna Zubia came up to bat but flew out to right field, followed by Michelle Stansbury who went down on strikes. It was beginning to look like extra innings for the Crushers.

Angela Parker was the third batter up, and sparked a ray of hope as she singled past the shortstop then advanced to second base on a passed ball. The rally continued as Molin and Casillas each singled, with Casillas earning the RBI as Parker crossed home plate with the winning run.

The Crushers, competing in the 16 and under division, entered the single elimination portion of the tournament, having finished second in their pool. They took to the diamond at 12:30 p.m., against the OC Wildcats (Trabuco Canyon) who had also finished second in their pool, losing out to first place through a tiebreaker (they were undefeated in tournament play).

The Crushers were first up to bat and seemed to be carrying the success of the earlier game as they sent five batters to the plate and scored a run. The Wildcats managed only three batters, who went down in order in the bottom of the first inning.

Although the Crushers had four batters in the top of the second inning, they were unable to score. Sensing an opening, the Wildcats ended the second inning with a run of their own, tying the game at 1.

The Crushers bounced back in the top of the third inning, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring two runs. At this point the softball game looked more like ping-pong as the Wildcats countered with eight batters of their own, who ended up scoring three runs.

After three complete innings, the winds were calm but the Crushers were behind 4 - 3. The fourth inning saw the Crushers go down in order while the Wildcats added one more run to lead 5 - 3. The fifth inning would require tremendous effort on the part of the Crushers if they were to tie or beat the Wildcats. Four batters later, however, the Wildcats prepared to move on to game five as the Crushers could not score. The bright spot (if you can call it bright) in losing game five came at the end of the tournament: the Wildcats were crowned champions with a record of 7 - 0. The Crushers headed home to Burbank wondering how they would fare in their next, and final, tournament before high school season started.