The 14-U Lawrence Phenix had to wait a year for the State Games of America, but it was worth the wait. The team took 3rd place last weekend in the national tournament.

In fact, the Phenix qualified for the tournament two years ago when the team took first place in the State Games of Kansas, but because the State Games of America is only played every other year the team had to wait for the invitation only opportunity.

“When the opportunity arouse I knew we had to go and compete,” coach Bill Finucane said. “It is a unique invitation and only a few teams are invited to play.”

The girls fast pitch team traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado for the weekend competition. The Phenix team faced and defeated 16-U competition en route to its bronze medal finish.

“I thought it was a great experience,” Finucane said. “The team represented Lawrence and the Phenix organization very well.”

On the season Phenix finished with a 49-33-1 record and exceeded its preseason goals by making a huge improvement from the success achieved last year as a 12-U team.

Coach Finucane hopes to return many of the girls on his roster and carry over the momentum from the success the team experienced this year.

“”I hope we can build on the success we had this season,” Finucane said. “We will still be a 14-U team and I hope we can be even more competitive.”

The team is going to try to fit in some softball this fall and even though the season just ended, coach Finucane looks forward to the challenges of the upcoming season.

Team members are Tracie Weege, Baldwin; Haley Finucane, Baldwin; LeeAnne Pringle, Perry; Callie Craig, Baldwin; Anna Mages, Ottawa; Lexi Smith, Lawrence; Jamie Morgison, Lawrence; Courtney Kasson, Perry; Kacie Welborn, Lawrence; Madison Oller, Eudora. Coaches for the team are Bill Finucane, Baldwin and Marv Oller, Eudora.