Fury earn spot in NSA World Tournament

The Heartland Fury, a Jackson fast-pitch girls softball team for players ages 18 and under, finished second at the NSA world qualifying tournament at Shawnee Sports Complex in Cape Girardeau.

The team was among 40 teams entered from five states in the event held June 6 to 8.

The Fury began pool play on the opening day with a 3-2 loss to the Gateway Storm of St. Louis, then bounced back on the second day to defeat the Storm of Poplar Bluff 4-3. The Fury lost again later Saturday, 5-1 to the Festus Hornets.

But from there, a pair of wins assured the Fury of a spot in the title game. First in the single-elimination round on Sunday, the Fury defeated No. 2-seeded ECI Dynamite of Danville, Ill., 3-2, then followed with an 8-1 win over the previously unbeaten Hornets. The Kelso Magic won the title in a shutout.

Kelly Riggs pitched all three games Sunday and went 2-1.

The team will play in the world tournament later this month.