Michala Erickson hit a three-run, walk-off home run Sunday, leading the AZ Hotshots past the AZ Storm 8-5 to win the 16u/18u ASA Kickoff Classic at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex in Phoenix.

“She was struggling all day today but then made an adjustment in the end,” said Hotshots coach Shelby Davis.

The game was a pitchers’ duel early between Michelle Poe of the Storm and Taylor Secemski of the Hotshots. There was plenty of offensive excitement in the end, however.

Secemski hit a two-RBI single in the sixth to tie the game 2-2. The Storm quickly answered in the top of the seventh with a three-run double by the tournament’s leading hitter, Gabbie Sandstedt, to put the team up 5-2. Sandstedt hit three home runs during the weekend.

The Hotshots bounced back, starting with consecutive singles by Maddy Handy and Siera Phillips that helped tie the game at 5. Erikson followed with her three-run blast to finish the Storm.

Ironically, the Storm won their semifinal match against Sugar and Spikes with a dramatic rally.

They were trailing 11-4 after surrendering 11 runs in the second inning. The Storm battled back, and 14-year-old Jillian Leslie’s grand slam tied the game 11-11 in the fourth. The game-winning RBI came from Paige Hamelin in the fifth, and the Storm advanced to the final with a 12-11 victory.