Ashburn’s 14U Shooting Stars Gold Capture 16U Title

The 14U Ashburn Shooting Stars Gold were crowned the USSSA 16U Virginia State Champions this past weekend at the USSSA state tournament held at Claude Moore Park in Sterling. The first-year 14U Shooting Stars Gold played up an age division and faced players as old as 17, yet still posted a 4-0-1 record for the tournament. The Stars were one of two No. 1 seeds coming out of pool play, allowing just four runs in three pool games. 

The Stars beat the Velocity, VA, Stingrays and tied the VA Crushers Saturday.  On Sunday the Stars came out red hot and trounced the Haymarket Bobcats 7-3 in the semi-finals to earn a place in the final.

The final pitted the two number one seeds against each other. The game also featured a battle of defending USSSA State Champions: the Shooting Stars Gold were the 2012 12U State Champions and the Fairfax Firebirds were the defending 16U USSSA State Champions. The Firebirds are a second-year 16U team made up twelve varsity players from several Fairfax Country high schools, including four all-district selections. The Firebirds entered the championship with a perfect record having scored 37 runs, including two 14-run mercy rule victories, while allowing only seven runs through its first four games.

As a first year 14U team the Shooting Stars Gold are made up of 13- and 14-year-olds from Ashburn, Sterling, Leesburg and Purcellville who will be rising freshman. But they would not let the age or size difference intimidate them. The Stars came out ready to play and all the pressure was on the Firebirds to defend their title against the much younger team.

The Firebird’s took an early 1-0 lead and held for four innings. Then the Stars Gold fought back to a 3-1 lead in the top of the 5th inning. But the Firebirds’ well-placed doubles put them back on top at 4-3 heading into the top of the 7th inning. 

The Stars took a 5-4 lead during their last at bat, and held on to the end for the title.

Girls born in 1999 or 2000 interested in joining the Shooting Stars GOLD next season should check out the team website www.14ustars.info for information about tryouts.

– Dave Carver provide this article and photo.