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WORLAND - The 14U Worland Wildfire softball team participated in the Riverton Invitational over the weekend and walked away as the Invitational champions.

The Wildfires started the Invite against Lander and won 4-2. Lander's two runs were scored due to errors on Worland's part but pitcher Brooke Hellyer had a terrific performance from the mound. She went five innings without a hit, had 10 strikeouts (Ks) and gave up no walks. Offensively Zoe Fernandez led the team with three hits while Raychel Duffy, Kendra Garcia, Elie Martinez and Emily Stoermer had one hit each.

In the championship Worland fed off another excellent Hellyer performance to propel them to a 6-1 victory. Hellyer didn't allow a hit, struck out 12 and gave up a single walk. Vivian Mosbroker led the Wildfires with two hits and Martinez, Kylie Fronk, Zoe Fernandez and Duffy had one hit each.

The 10U Wildfires team also traveled to Riverton for the Invitational and recorded their second victory of the season against the Riverton Cyclones by a score of 10-7.

Wildfires coach Dave Coronado was very pleased with both team's performances over the weekend, "Game one against Lander was intense, that was probably the best defensive team we've played all year. As a 12-year-old going against 14- to 15-year-olds, Brooke Hellyer did a fantastic job by recording 22 strikeouts and one walk in 10 innings pitched. She's going to be a force for years to come on the mound as she learns more pitch types. Raychel Duffy did an amazing job catching, two weeks ago she was the No. 3 catcher. She's worked hard and was a valuable part of the team's success this weekend."

Coach Coronado continued praising his teams not only for their outings this weekend but for the work they've put in all year, "We as Wildfire coaches are extremely proud of both 14U and 10U teams. The girls are playing hard, improving with each game and showing fantastic sportsmanship. So much that the girls are beginning to be recognized for it by other teams, umpires and communities."

Prior to the Riverton Invitational, the Wildfires played in the Casper Summer Kickoff Invitational. It was during this tournament that the 10U had their first win of the season as they beat the Casper Panthers 10-7.

For the 14U team the Summer Kickoff tourney was a tournament of peaks and valleys. Starting with the peak Wildfires beat Gillette, 11-7, for the first time in four years. At one point Worland was down 4-1 in the fourth inning then ripped off 10 runs to take an 11-4 lead. Once they had the lead the team locked it down defensively and Hellyer picked up the "W" from the mound.

Now for the valley, after beating Gillette Worland's next game was against Cody in which they lost 10-2 and in the tournament portion the Wildfires would lose again to Cody this time in a 11-0 shutout.

"It was the first time we've been shutout this season, Cody was just the better team that day and we didn't play well at all. Cody would go on to finish third, the 14U bracket was a tough one, all the teams in our bracket won at least one game. Gillette, who was the No. 1 seed, was upset by Douglas in the single elimination bracket," said coach Coronado.

The Wildfires also started their city league seasons in the Riverton city league on May 31. The 14U won their first game against the Panthers 14-9 with Hellyer picking up the win. For their second game Worland defeated the Bobcats 12-10 as Fernandez was the winning pitcher. The 10U team lost a 12-11 nail-biter against Riverton's 12U.