A trip to New Jersey turned out just great for the Newtown Heat 14-and-under travel softball team.

With wins over the Suffolk Storm, North Edison Blue Devils, South Jersey Spirit, Shore Magic, and Howell Heat Blue, the locals qualified for the tournament championship … where they lost to the Clifton Charmers.

There were 24 teams in the tournament and the Heat was seeded fourth.

In the win over Suffolk, Elyssa Michaels struck out six, Nicole Stolz went 3-for-3 with a triple, and Sammie Ciaccia, Val Nezvesky, Rachel Nicolosi and Kim Nezveksy were each 2-for-3. In the win over North Edison, Kelly Garrerra struck out 11 while Ashley Ferris had a triple and a double and Rachel Nicolosi went 2-for-3 to lead the offense.

In the win over South Jersey, Ciaccia was 2-for-2 with a single and a triple while Ferris homered. In the win over Shore, Nicolosi, Ciaccia and Garrerra each went 1-for-3 while Kate Kirschauer went 1-for-2. And in the win over Howell, Stolz was 3-for-4 while Val Nezvesky was 2-for-4 with a triple. Ciaccia, Ferris and Kirschauer each went 2-for-4 as Kim Nezvesky and Michaels belted back-to-back doubles.

That set up the championship tilt with Clifton, but after three straight games in scorching 90-degree weather the Heat couldn’t keep it together.

Throughout the tournament, the defense was strong. Ferris (C), Val Nezvesky (SS), Nicolosi (2B), Ciaccia (1B), Hirschauer (3B), and Stolz (CF) all made big plays. Kim Nezvesky, Danielle Nicolosi, and Tricia Leonard all had key grabs in the outfield. And on the mound, Michaels and Kelly Garrerra struck out 26 combined.