The Cupertino Inferno, a 12 and under fastpitch softball team, recently returned from a trip to Everett, Wash., for the National Softball Association's Western World Series.

The Inferno won two games at the 28-team event, held July 17-25, but suffered a pair of tough one-run losses and dropped a 7-3 game to the eventual fourth-place finisher, Wenatchee, Wash.

Led by the pitching of Tieni Householder and Victoria Hayward, the Inferno competed in eight California tournaments between March and July. It qualified for the Western World Series by finishing in third place at the Memorial Day Classic in Salinas.

In preparation for the Washington tourney, the Inferno had a busy summer. It posted second-place finishes at two Fremont tournaments and earned third place at a Sacramento event. The local team also participated in the NSA State Championship tourney.

The team's performance during a quarterfinal game of the Salinas tournament typified the grit of the Inferno team, according to coach Brian Barry. In that game his team needed to go into extra innings before edging the Vallejo Hurricanes 2-1.

"It all came together in that one," Barry said. The defense stayed focused, the pitching was awesome and we scored runs on hustle and heads-up base running."

Householder pitched a two-hitter in that game and Kelly Utley scored the winning run when she raced home from third on a passed ball.

Top hitters for the team at the Western World Series were Felicia Baldwin and Jordan Day, according to Barry, while Lauren Linney and Hayward were defensive standouts.

Other team members were Kelly Hamilton, Rachael Mahoney, Jillian Gerrity, Karina Schneider and Sammi Barry.

Most of the Inferno players participated in the Cupertino Girls Softball League's spring season that ended in June.

Unlike the competitive tournament season, official records of wins and losses are not kept during the spring league.

Instead, the focus is on the recreational and educational aspects of fastpitch softball. The two-month season culminates with a T-shirt Tournament.

The 2004 T-shirt winners were the Killer Tomatoes in the 12 and under division and the Red Peppers in the 10 and under bracket.

The Killer Tomatoes beat the Blue Flames in their final game. The Purple Haze, the Jitterbugs and the Blue Crush also participated in the tournament.

The Killer Tomatoes "were not overly competitive by nature, but played well in the season-ending tournament," said Barry, who coached the team.

The Killer Tomatoes included Ashley Thorpe, Felicia Baldwin, Sophie Papacosta, Sarah Hartley, Sammi Barry, Sarah Morrison, Emily Augason, Micaela Heinrich, Alysse Trzeciak, Laura Leddy, Sumayyah Naguib and Jane Kim. Barry's coaching staff included Larry Baldwin, Chu Baldwin and Jill Heinrich.

The Red Peppers beat the Purple Pandemonium in the 10 and under finale, but first had to get past the Royal Blue Bananas and the Orange Flames. There were seven teams in the division, including the Pickles of Doom, Hot Shots and Electric Fuzzles.