Phenix-Fyler finishes in fourth

? The Lawrence Phenix-Fyler softball team capped its summer season with a fourth-place finish Sunday at the 18-and-under USSSA Central Region Class B World Series.

The Phenix had hoped to repeat after winning the tournament title in Tulsa, Okla., last year, but the Northern Illinois Thunder eliminated Lawrence, 3-0, in an early-morning game.

The Thunder plated three runs in the first inning, though Phenix starting pitcher Cori Munoz held the team scoreless the rest of the way as she threw a complete game.

Munoz and Rachel Potvin were named to the all-tournament team.

Phenix coach Randy Fyler said his staff felt that Jasmine Benning, Maddie Potvin and Whitney Rothwell were also among the top performers at the tournament, where Lawrence went 6-2 against teams from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska.

“We enjoyed it,” Fyler said. “Everyone was disappointed, but (a tournament official) said how it is — just like the NCAA Tournament, there’s only one team that’s going away happy. Everyone else ends the season with a loss, but it was a good season.”

The Phenix finished the summer season with a 30-10 record. Fyler said the team will play in the fall, but players’ academic and athletic commitments likely will shorten competition to just one or two tournaments.