It has been a season of growth and learning for the Honey Badgers 13u Fiddler. After an 8-0-1 start to the season, the rigors of the tournament schedule have been exactly what the girls have needed for long-term growth. Now 16-15-3 on the Spring/Summer season, the improvement across the board has been tremendous.

Early in the season the transition from 12u to 14u was apparent, especially with a much stronger tournament schedule than most teams local to the Youngstown area. But that is the Honey Badger way, something the organization takes pride in. While the 13u ladies went 0-4 in May against top-tier competition in Ashland, they bounced back in Novi, Michigan for a 2-5 record and a win in bracket play at the Ultimate Fastpitch Showcase. Meanwhile, closer to home and in tournaments designed for local competition, the girls have put together a 3-1-2 record that earned them a Top 4 finish, a 1-3 record and, this past weekend, a 2-1 record that earned them the #3 seed in the gold bracket in New Waterford. 

While wins are always nice, the growth of the players both individually and as a team are key. In New Waterford the Honey Badgers saw Harper Heim step up her game getting 3 hits, including a beautiful triple, and earning a game MVP thanks to strong defense in CF. Elizabeth Jernigan was on fire at the plate going 8-10 with 8 runs scored, Autumn Miller has emerged to fill a need in the outfield, Aislyn Fuller took on catching all four games and Addie Fiddler had a fantastic weekend both at the plate and on the mound.

Looking ahead, the Honey Badgers 13u Fiddler has just two more tournaments to cap off the season. First, another Showcase Tournament in Columbus, Ohio where they will face a gauntlet of top-tier teams, all starting on Friday afternoon. Then, the 2023-2024 team wraps up the season at the ROC Elite Tournament in the Youngstown area. 

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