Storm too strong for competition at Last Chance Qualifier tournament

July 19, 2010, 1:15 p.m.

  The 14U Livonia Storm fast-pitch travel softball team rolled to a title at the Last Chance Qualifier tournament held this past weekend at Liberty Park in Sterling Heights.

  The Storm, whose roster includes several local players, defeated the Dearborn Wild, 6-0, in the title game. The Storm lost in the USSSA state finals last weekend to the Portage Hurricanes in double-overtime.

  The Storm won all six of its games, shutting out five opponents. Elaine Gerou, a sophomore-to-be at Plymouth High School, tossed three shutouts -- one of which was a no-hitter -- and threw three shutout relief innings in the championship contest.

  Jacquelyn Murphy also registered three mound victories, including one shutout. Murphy also blanked the Wild for three innings in the first-place game.

  The Storm excelled despite having just nine healthy players. A flu bug sidelined two players, including one of the team's three pitchers.

  "The girls stepped up and everyone made key contributions to our team's tournament championship," said head coach Mike Gerou.

  The Storm will take a 41-9-1 record into next week's USSSA World Series at ESPN's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. They are ranked No. 1 in the state in their age bracket and No. 3 in the country.

  Pictured in the above-right photo are (front row from left) Delainey O'Donnell, Jacquleyn Murphy, Jessica Brandon, Celeste Fidge, (back row from left) head coach Mike Gerou, Elaine Gerou, Halee Warren, assistant coach Kevin Bias, Catherine Porter, Shannon Watson, Kaitlyn McIntosh, Casey Bias, assistant coach Jay McIntosh and assistant coach Bob Warren. Not pictured are Hanna Warren and Aubrie Cragg.