12-and-Under, 10-and-Under Girls Softball Teams Looking For Upsets in National Tournament

Just like their , the San Bruno Storm 12-and-under and 10-and-under teams have earned a spot to compete at the Amateur Softball Association Western Nationals.

Both teams qualified in June after placing second in the Nor-Cal section tournament in Sunnyvale. Now, they're preparing to face off against teams from other parts of the West in a four-game double elimination tournament in Fresno.

The 12-and-under Storm are coming off a season with only two losses—both to their rival in Belmont.

But with half of the team returning from last year, the team is more experienced and well-balanced, said Chris Jordan, the team's assistant head coach.

"They've just got to develop their mental game," Jordan said. "A lot of the other girls play year-round, so we're mostly working on the girls' ability to stay tough for a full seven innings."

Jordan said the team will be looking to its two main pitchers, Allie Stines and Rafi Dade, to take the lead in keeping up the team's mental fortitude.

The big emphasis for the 10-and-under Storm going into Western Nationals will be the team's hitting, said manager Eric Lacayo.

"The girls have been outstanding," Lacayo said of this year's team. "This is probably the best hitting I've seen out of the seven years I've been coaching."