RICHMOND—The Southampton Storm 14U placed second in the Gold Bracket at the 2012 Softball Nation Easter Special on April 7 at Harry Daniel Park at Ironbridge in Richmond.

The girls lost 6-4 to the Lake Country Crushers in the title game.

The Tidewater Opener tournament hosted nine teams in the division. Southampton competed on Saturday against the Virginia Chaos White and Lake Country Crushers in pool play, ending in the Gold Bracket. Southampton played against the overall top seed, Richmond Avalanche, and the other number one seed, Rockbridge Crush, to make it to the championship game.

“Our girls had to play through adversity today,” said Southampton Storm Coach Sean Wade. “They had to play three back-to-back games to avoid elimination and then had to play two back-to-back games to end the day.”

“They were tired, they were hungry, but they never gave up,” Wade continued. “Their grit and determination and the hard work in the off-season has paid off. I am anticipating a great season with this special group of young ladies.

The next tournament will be Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, in Charlottesville.

The Southampton Storm 12U team also played at the Easter Special in Richmond, going 3-1 and losing in the semifinals to the Virginia Edge.

Southampton Storm Fast-pitch is a travel team that has three teams competing in Softball Nation, NSA and USSSA tournaments. Players are from Franklin, Suffolk and Southampton, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Sussex and Isle of Wight counties.

For more information, go to www.southamptonstormfastpitch.comor contact Wade at seanwadebb@yahoo.com.