Six junior teams which represented Bermuda at the Nike Boston National Qualifier in Massachusetts did well with two of the sides reaching the gold medal bracket.

Paradise Hitters 17 and under, were the top performers, along with Paradise Hitters 15 and under, who both finished fifth place overall, competing in divisions consisting of 63 and 60 teams, respectively.

Paradise Hitters 13 and under and Big Wave Riders 15 and under reached the silver medal bracket, with each team securing seventh position overall after competing in divisions of 28 and 20, separately.

Big Wave Riders 18 and under finished 23rd out of 30, and Big Wave Riders 16 and under finished 30th out of 35.

Gary LeBlanc, the club director and national team committee (indoor) chairman, pointed out that they were aware of what was in store for the teams.

“We knew this would be a tough tournament for some of our teams but we’re very excited with all of our teams’ results,” LeBlanc said.

Kamryn Martins, head coach of Paradise Hitters 13 and under, was pleased with the persistence shown by the young players.

“Two weekends ago, the U13s delivered an impressive performance in Boston, opening the tournament with a dominant first day by winning all of their games in pool play.

“Carrying that momentum into day two, the team continued to compete at a high level throughout the day and won their first two games. After a long day of competition, the girls lost their final game of the night in a tough, hard-fought game.

“Their strong performance over the first two days earned them a place in the silver bracket heading into championship play.

“On the final day of competition, the team returned ready to compete, but unfortunately fell in their opening game bringing their tournament run to an end.

“Despite the result, the U13s showed strong teamwork, resilience and continued growth competing against high level competition.”

This was the second overseas outing for Paradise Hitters 17 and under, with their coach head coach Mike Gazzard expressing his delight with the team’s display.

“The U17 team delivered an outstanding performance over three days of competition, finishing an impressive fifth of 63 teams,” Gazzard said.

“Competing against many seasoned US club programmes, the girls demonstrated tremendous determination, teamwork and composure throughout the tournament.

“As coaches, we are extremely proud of the way they represented themselves, our club and Bermuda.

“This result is a testament to the hard work and commitment they have shown all season and we thank them for the effort, resilience and pride they brought to every match. Well done U17s.”