PEORIA, Ill. — Coming off their state-championship high school softball season, Brodhead seniors Jaeyln Hilliard and Sophia Leitzen have another title to add to their resumes: National Champions.

Their team, the U18 Heat Tri-State, participated in the USSSA Great Lakes National Championships July 17-22. There, the team went 8-0, scoring 37 runs while allowing 16. To earn the title, the Heat, based out of Platteville, defeated TX Glory 05 from Illinois 3-1. Based on her performance in the championship game, Hilliard was named the offensive MVP. 

In pool play, the Heat defeated Kewanee Ballhawks ’04 (6-5), East Peoria Express Barnes (5-2) and Tinley Park Rockers 18U-Wolfe (3-2). 

In bracket play, the Heat drew Lady Xtreme Plue 18U, defeating them 13-2. To advance to the semifinal game, the Heat beat Minnesota A’s 18U Nat’l Leicht (3-2) and MN Force 18U National-George. The team narrowly defeated the Glory in the semifinal, 3-2, before taking the championship 3-1 against the same team.

Hilliard and Leitzen became state champions in June when Brodhead defeated Mayville 1-0 during the Division 3 state tournament championship game. Leitzen tied a Division 3 state tournament record with three triples in a game and three triples in the tournament. The pair will begin their senior seasons in the fall.