While folks in the Battlefords are still waiting for the softball diamonds to thaw out, one of the former players is playing ball in the sunbelt of California.
In fact, Tori Heinemann, a former fastball player for the Battlefords Bandits, is due to be involved in the California College Fastball Playoffs beginning May 4.
She has played softball for College of the Desert Roadrunners in Palm Springs and has played left field for that team.
The team recently won its second Foothill Conference championship. Their first playoff game is against Santa Ana College.
According to the information provided to the Regional Optimist by Lyndon Heinemann, Tori has put up some impressive numbers so far in 2013.
In 34 games played with the Roadrunners, Tori has scored 24 runs, with 23 singles, seven doubles, four home runs and 18 RBIs.
Her batting average this season is .329 overall and .458 in the conference. Her on base percentage is .405 overall and .500 within the conference, and her slugging percentage is .600 overall and .833 in the conference. She has been named a first-team conference all-star outfielder.
Roadrunner head coach Thomas Armstrong is said to be impressed with Tori's play during her freshman season with the team, citing her speed in the field and on the bases along with her bunting and slugging ability.
For her part, Lyndon reports that Tori enjoys the climate in California and encourages other athletes to consider university and college sports opportunities in California's post-secondary system.
Before joining the Roadrunners, Tori played all her minor fastball with the Battlefords Bandits organization, starting when she was just six years old.
She follows the footsteps of other Bandits players who have gone on to the collegiate ranks, including Sarah Heinemann (Jamestown College), Brittany Fedler (Dawson College), Rikki Fedler (Dawson College), Lindsay Campbell (Graceland Univerity), Carrie Wilson (Graceland University) and Kayla Barker.
