EGYPT Heading into their final at bat on Saturday, the Bowmanstown Blaze softball team found itself down by six runs to the South Parkland Youth Association Red.

But instead of giving up and settling for silver, the Blaze team dug deep and pulled out the gold.The Blaze used a dramatic seventh-inning rally to tie the game and scored the winning run in the eighth to capture the Parkland U14 Softball League Championship with a 12-11 victory.."It took a lot of heart," said Bowmanstown coach Jamie Frantz. "A lot of character. I couldn't be more proud of them. I wish it would have started a little earlier since it could have saved me some grey hairs. But, I can't say enough about them."These kids were up there shaking in the batter's box. But, it was something we always dreamed about as kids. Hey, two outs, tie game, and we were up to bat. Saying and doing are two different things, and Payton came up to bat and got it done."With the International Softball tie-breaker rule in effect (the final batter in the last inning of play is awarded second base to start off an inning), SPYA Red's Mia Wanyo stood in scoring position to start the top of the eighth.But thanks to some tremendous plays by the Blaze defense, SPYA Red couldn't get the run home.In the bottom of the frame, the Blaze's Shelly Kroboth started on second base.Paige Frantz followed with a bunt single, but Kroboth was unable to advance to third. A wild pitch followed, allowing both Kroboth and Frantz to move up a base with no one out. It looked like SPYA Red might escape the jam when the next two batters were retired. The Blaze's Payton Lesher had other ideas, however, as she singled to plate Kroboth with the winning run."I was very nervous to get up to bat with two outs," said Lesher, who ended up with two singles, two runs scored and two RBIs. "But I am very proud of myself and our team for pulling out a win."While it was a single run in the eighth inning that helped the Blaze bring the U14 softball title home to Bowmanstown, it was the six runs in the seventh that showed the heart of a determined group of players.Allyssa Frantz started it with a two-run double, scoring Paige Frantz (walk) and Kaylee Sacks (single). With one out, Tori Sterling delivered a two-run single, scoring Alyssa Frantz and Lesher. Finally, Hanna Smith made it a whole new ball game with her hit, which scored Bre Hartranft and Sterling."This was a good game because we came back and showed we could fight till the end," said Smith, who finished with two singles, a run scored and two RBIs. "We did everything we could to win this one. I'm just so happy that we won today."It also felt really good to get that game tying hit because I really wanted to win this. I just wanted to hit that ball so bad. And, I just knew I was going to get them in."Sacks (single, double, run scored, RBI) and Sterling (two singles, run scored, two RBIs) also added multiple hit games for the champions.SPYA 070 112 00 - 11 12 3Blaze 012 020 61 - 12 10 2Klotz and Kern; Sterling, A. Frantz (3), Sterling (6) and A. Frantz, Hartranft (3), A. Frantz (6). W - Sterling. L - Klotz.