The Queen Bees 16U travel team won the 2025 USSSA C Eastern National Championship in Loudoun County, Virginia.
By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
The Queen Bees 16U (WV) swarmed out of the Hive into the Old Dominion to be crowned the USSSA C Eastern National Champion with an unscathed record finishing with a 5-4 win over Rapidfire (NY) for the title.
The Queen Bees 16U joined a field of 15 teams from six states competing in the USSSA C Eastern National Championships in Loudoun County, VA playing in Sterling and Leesburg: Queen Bees (WV), Rapidfire (NY), Freedom (PA), Fever – Bonier (MD), 540 Black Widows (VA), Talleyville Travellers – Blue (DE), Bayside Blues Denton (MD), DYS Thunder-bie (VA), Revolution Delco (PA), Harundel Lady Hawks (MD), LT Lazers Red (MD), Southern Maryland Ospreys (MD), Maryland Sting Kingan (MD), New Oxford Flames (PA) and MD Dynasty (MD).
The Queen Bees 16U were the only representative from the Mountain State and buzzed past each computer en route to bringing home the national title hardware to the Hive.
The Queen Bees 16U team members include: Brenna See, Rylie Armentrout, Emmy Crites, Abigail Nettles, Sara Baldwin, Blair Loy, Payton Miller, Grace Simmons, Geneva Hart, Layaleigh Tavenner, Annie Barr and Annison Kite. Coaching staff: Daniel Barr, Remington Hinkle, Donnie Loy and Amy Crites.
The Queen Bees 16U started the USSSA C Eastern Nationals Championships defeating Revolution Delco 5-4, followed by wins over LT Lazers Red 9-8, MD Sting Kingan 12-nil, 540 Black Widows 12-0, Revolution Delco 6-5, Fever – Bonier 8-4 and completed the undefeated championship run over Rapidfire 5-4.
“Great job, girls, on your amazing win at Nationals. I am so proud of each and every one of you. I hope you understand that every single one of you played a vital role in the success of this team throughout the week. Hold your heads high – you’ve earned it. Thank you for showing class, confidence, and heart every step of the way. Congratulations, champs,” Queen Bees 16U manager Daniel Barr stated.
Queen Bees 16U pitcher Grace Simmons was in the circle for national championship game throwing seven strikeouts against Rapidfire and allowed just two hits, in addition to pitching in four other games during the tournament including a no-hitter with seven strikeouts against MD Sting Kingan.
Simmons was named the USSSA C Eastern National Championships most outstanding pitcher.
Queen Bees 16U’s Annie Barr was selected as the USSSA C Eastern National Championship best offensive player of the game having recorded an RBI double in the title game.
Barr pitched a no-hitter with two strikeouts against the 540 Black Widows and started the national championship game in the circle.
Queen Bees 16U hitter Blair Loy notched the game-winning RBI sacrifice fly plating teammate Rylie Armetrout to beat Revolution Delco 5-4. Simmons pitched seven strikeouts with no this over 2.2 innings, while Anniston Kite tossed six strikeouts with one hit over 2.1 innings.
Queen Bees 16U’s Emmy Crites garnered two hits and scored once against LT Lazers and pitched 0.1 innings. Simmons threw 4.2 innings with four strikeouts in the 9-8 win.
Armentrout (2 RBI, 2 runs) and Geneva Hart had two hits apiece in the 12-0 win over MD Sting Kingan.
Simmons had two hits including a triple against 540 Black Widows with two RBI and two runs scored.
Sara Baldwin notched a double in the same contest.
Armentrout had two hits against Revolution Delco and Barr pitched four strikeouts in the 8-4 win.
Barr and Simmons (3K) pitched against Fever – Bonier, while Crites and Nettles collected two hits apiece.
The Queen Bees 16U team trailed Rapidfire 4-nil in the first inning of the national championship game, then started the rally scoring five unanswered runs to take the crown.
Annie Barr launched an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning (Armentrout) with two outs, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
After a double play in the fourth inning, Simmons executed a bunt single and scored on a miscue by the catcher, 4-2.
The Queen Bees kept chipping away in the championship adding another run in the fifth inning for a 4-3 score as Tavenner notched an RBI single into center field plating Brenna See.
The Queen Bees complete the rally scoring two runs in the sixth inning to win the USSSA C Eastern National Championship.
Nettles and Loy smacked back-to-back singles to commence the sixth inning.
Barr hit into fielder’s choice out at third base, then Simmons singled on a bunt to load the bases.
Baldwin brought home Loy on a sharp grounder to the shortstop tying the game.
Miller delved the game-winning RBI sacrifice fly plating Barr for the 5-4 championship victory.
Simmons pitched three consecutive strikeouts to end the title game as the Queen Bees swarmed to the USSSA C Eastern National Championship trophy to celebrate and collected their championship rings.
