Rising sophomore Haley Ward and incoming freshman Heather Dunning of the Norfolk State softball team recently led their VA Legends team to the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Over 18 Fastpitch World Series title.

VA Legends went 7-1 over the two-day tournament July 27 and 28 at the Botetourt Sports Complex in Troutville, Va., north of Roanoke. The squad beat out 11 other teams that hail from South Carolina to Maryland for the title. No other team finished better than 5-2 in the tournament.

The Legends team included current or former players from schools such as UCF, Florida State, Michigan, Florida, Virginia Tech, LSU and Maryland, including Hampton University head softball coach Trena Peel.

In pool play, the Legends defeated the Stafford Storm, 8-0, and then the Virginia Rowdies Elite by that same 8-0 margin. In bracket play, the Legends shut out Wagner’s Elite 23U, 9-0, as well as Richmond Ruckus 23U, 8-0. Virginia Pride

handed the Legends its only loss, 2-1, in a late Saturday afternoon game to drop the team into the loser’s bracket.

The Legends squad took care of business on that Sunday, however, defeating the Hornets and Virginia Pride by identical 6-0 scores. Because of the double elimination format, the Legends had to play Virginia Pride again, and once again they handled the Pride with ease in a 9-1 victory to cap the tournament. Read More NSU