LOCAL FAST-PITCH TEAMS GIVE CHASE TO NATIONAL TITLES

Three area fast-pitch girls softball teams will attempt to bring home national championships this week.

The three Benton-based squads will leave early Wednesday morning for Houma, La., where they will compete in the Babe Ruth Softball National Tournament that runs from Thursday through Sunday.

Local squads that have qualified for the prestigious tourney are the 12-under Heartland Nationals, the 13-15-year-old Heartland Nationals and the 16-18-year-old Bootheel Bandits.

The 12-under and 13-15 squads qualified by winning state and regional titles while the 16-18 team automatically advanced because no other team in the state or region is affiliated with Babe Ruth Softball.

All three squads figure to have legitimate shots at bringing home national championships. During the national tournament held last year in Benton, the 12-under Heartland Nationals won the title, the 13-15 Heartland Nationals finished fifth and the Bootheel Bandits placed second.

Following is a look at each team as it prepares for the national meet:

Heartland Nationals 12-Under

Head coach Tom Essner has just two players back from last year's national championship squad but he believes there is enough talent on the squad to contend for another title.

"I think we have a real good team," he said. "It will boil down to how well we play defense and whether our pitchers can throw strikes or not. In 12-under, I believe pitching is 95 percent of the game."

Kelly Essner and Laura Weissmueller are the only returning players for the Nationals, who are made up of players from Benton, New Hamburg, Kelso and Oran.

Other players on the squad are Whitney Beggs, Lindsay Reinagel, Monica Senciboy, Emily Miller, Stacey Seyer, Mallory Kiefer, Alana Weissmueller, Kristin Harper, Barbara Diebold, Bethany Beggs and Lexi Todt.

Essner, Beggs and Reinagel are the team's primary hurlers.

Other coaches for the squad are Mike Senciboy and Donnie Kiefer.

The Nationals will open play at 3 p.m. Thursday against the New England regional champion. The championship game is set for 11 a.m. Sunday.

Heartland Nationals 13-15

Head coach Mike Riley's 13-15 program has made quite an impact on the national tournament, qualifying seven of the last eight years and winning the title in 1992.

The Nationals are made up of players from Benton, New Hamburg, Kelso, Chaffee, Scott City, Delta and Oran.

"I think we've got a good team," said Riley, who is assisted by Doug Johnson and Randy Kern. "You never know going out there how nervous the girls are going to be, but if they play ball, I think they'll do well."

Top pitchers for the Nationals are Marissa Essner and Bridgett Riley, who both attend Kelly High School.

Essner threw a no-hitter in the championship game of the regional tournament while Riley tossed a no-hitter in the semifinals of the state tourney.

Other team members are Megan Beggs, Nicole Kern, Jodi Pfefferkorn, Morgan Kieffer, Traci Kluesner, Mika Williamson, Cassey Graviett, Ashley Reinagel, Amanda O'Brien, Kari Lape, Ashley Kern, Allison Johnson and Dana Essner.

The Nationals face the Southwest regional winner at 1 p.m. Thursday in their tourney opener. The finals are set for 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Bootheel Bandits 16-18

Nine players from 1997 Class 2A state champion Kelly High School supply the bulk of the Bandits' roster, along with three players from Chaffee High School.

Head coach Greg Riley, who is assisted by Don Riley and Debbie Glastetter, said the Bandits struggled some while competing this summer in the Cape League against mainly older teams.

"Most of the teams in that league have college players and we were below .500, but we faced some really good competition," he said. "I think we've got a strong team and, if we play like we've been playing, we've got a real shot at it."

Kim Riley, an all-stater at Kelly last season, and Chaffee's Jamie Duncan head up the pitching staff.

Kelly's Pam Essner is the top hitter at .412. Other players from Kelly on the squad are Tiffany Glastetter, Jenny Riley, Natalie Robert, Ashley Beggs, Cheryl Burnett, Andi Heisserer and Julie Milam. Chaffee's Jennifer Siebert and Brandi Foulk round out the roster.

The Bandits kick off tournament play at 7 p.m. Thursday against the Southeast region winner. The title contest will be at noon Sunday.