In Oregon, there’s no such thing as the midnight sun — just a really powerful one.
That was the lesson the Midnight Suns 10U softball team learned recently in two Newberg, Oregon tournaments. The Juneau team, guided by Amanda and Mike Lovejoy, played in eight games in back-to-back weekends in the small town south of Portland.
At the Alaskan UFO tournament June 24-25, the temperatures at the fields exceeded 90 degrees.
“It really sapped their energy,” coach Amanda Lovejoy said of the heat.
After losing two games on the first day of the UFO tournament, the Midnight Suns defeated Seaside (Oregon) 7-5 and the Lady Rebels (Albany, Oregon) 6-5 on the second for the silver bracket championship.
“This team is amazing,” Lovejoy said. “Every one of them put their heads down, got their game faces on and worked. I was so impressed by how much they grew as individuals and as a team. When we select teams, we don’t just look at athletic aptitude. We look at aptitude, drive, coachability, dedication and their love of the game. And these girls had it all. Everything I asked of them them, they did and then asked, ‘What else?’”
The 10U girls placed third in the Midnight Suns Father’s Day Classic June 17-18.
When not playing in the tournaments, the team spent time in practice, a University of Oregon Ducks softball clinic and the water park.
Jack Lovejoy, Ashlyn Gates and Mila Hargrave combined for 46 strike outs in the two tournaments.
A portion of the team will continue playing softball on the Gastineau Channel Little League All-Stars.
“I’m looking forward to watching them apply all the skills they honed while playing down south,” Lovejoy said.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
