Lehigh Lightning 16 & Under softball tournament team won the USSSA PA State 16U Tournament last month in Forks Township.

Lehigh Lightning defeated NEPA/Abington Wildcats, 9-2, in the final, after winning four previous games by scores of 5-3, 3-1, 5-2, and 5-2.

Coached by Rich Giering, Lehigh Lightning's players include: pitchers Michaela Brunnabend, Maegen Kavanagh, and Victoria Schmidt; catchers Ally Clause and Emily Kessler; infielders Kelby Giering, Kristin Kaleycik, Tori Kaleycik, and Maddie McConnel; and outfielders Megan Brown, Dallas Horning, Allison Milite, Dana Pollock, and Maya Thom.

At season's end, Lehigh Lightning was ranked third in the country, after having been ranked first, earlier last month.

Giering explained, "It goes by win-loss percentage, but we played six tournaments and won three of the six. We went to Ocean City, Md. on Father's Day weekend, and we played good down there, so we came back, had some good practices, and then we won in Northeast Philly."

Lehigh Lightning clinched the Philadelphia Summer Slam Championship, the USSSA 2013 Summer Slide Championship, and the USSSA PA B State Championship.

Lehigh Lightning won 23 straight games this season, finishing with an overall record of 28-5.

Affiliated with Lehigh Sports Association of which Lehigh Little League is a member, Lehigh Lightning is one of the few youth softball teams in the area.

"I'm trying to build that up. Northwest has a program, Lehigh has a program, but we're trying to rebuild that and keep the young girls in place," said Giering.

Giering was assisted by Tom Kaleycik, Mike Brunnabend, George Schmidt, and Julio Martinez.