The Suffolk Youth Athletic Association’s Suffolk Storm softball team recently won its first championship since the team started in 2014.

The Lady Storm 12U Black team defeated Legacy Elite 11-5 in the fall national championship at the Virginia Beach Sports Complex on Saturday.

During the tournament, two of the team’s veterans and catchers went down with injuries, but the ladies were able to stay focused and finish the day with a win.

The Coastal Storm fast-pitch softball program was started to give the girls of Suffolk Youth Athletic Association and the Smithfield Recreation Association a fun outlet, while also providing friendly and safe environment to play the game of softball and develop relationships on and off the playing field.

The Lady Storm were up 8-1 before the Legacy Elite mounted a comeback that brought the game to within three. Following that sequence the Lady Storm were able to add three more runs to win the game 11-5.

“Everyone was all into it,” coach Michael Clark said. “The players played well and didn’t slack off all weekend. We had a lot of support. The parents went out and got Coastal Storm sweatshirts and uniforms. One of our kids’ parent’s employers raised the money for us to play. We thank them for that.”

Next the Coastal Storm will be participating in the Jimmy Pike Invitational in memory of Mikayla Short, who had been involved in SYAA and passed away a couple of months ago from leukemia.

The tournament, hosted by the SYAA, will involve 30 teams from Jamestown, Yorktown and the Outer Banks, among other areas. Proceeds will be donated to Short’s family, which also has a 2-year-old daughter.

The tournament will be Nov. 12-13 at 501 King’s Fork Road. Mike Clark can be contacted for more information at popsmoke9@hotmail.com.