Eleven area girls fastpitch softball players born in 1998 or after have formed the “International Falls Fusion” to play on a 12U team against other elite teams.
The players on the Fusion, which wear the hometown purple and white, include Casey Meyers, Cassi Harju, Emma Gilbert, Allison Taschuk, Marrissa Kerry, Janet Humbert, Clara Palm, Abby Auran, Alexis Graves, Madison Truty and Emily Treat. Coaches are Jeff Kerry and Garrett Taschuk.
The Fusion played last weekend at Braun Park in Cloquet in the 12th annual Ashley Abrahamson Memorial Tournament, where 24 teams in two age divisions competed in more than 60 games during two days of action.
On day one in pool play, the seventh-ranked Fusion opened with a loss to top-ranked Grand Rapids, before turning things around by beating Proctor. In the third game of the day, the Fusion girls came up four runs short against the second-ranked Northwestern Tigers from Poplar, Wis.
The Fusion started day two with a convincing win against Hermantown. Pitcher Casey Meyers struck out five before Emily Treat finished the game in relief. In game two of the bracket play day, the Falls once again faced off against second-ranked Northwestern, but the Fusion came up short of upsetting the Tigers.
Emily Treat was honored in a midday ceremony by the Abrahamson family as the Fusion’s recipient of the Ashley Award. The award is given to one girl from each team who best represents who Ashley was — enthusiastic, excited to learn, a positive attitude, and good sportsmanship.
The Fusion will travel for league play to Cherry on July 6 and Hibbing on July 13, prior to hosting Hibbing on July 20. Make-up doubleheader games are being also planned in July at home against Eveleth and at Greenway.
In addition to league play, the Fusion will travel to Bemidji on July 9-10 for the Bemidji Blaze Tournament.
