AZ Hotshots-Creed grabbed an early lead Sunday and rode it to a 7-2 win over the Scottsdale Heat in the 18u championship of the USSSA Sunny Classic Qualifier at Big League Dreams.

“You know when you play them that they’re going to be tough,” said Heat coach Craig Zarrow. “The key with them is not to get behind early and we did, but we couldn’t come back like we did against other teams.”

The Hotshots scored three times in the top of the first. Brittany Dvorak hit a deep line drive to left for a double and an RBI. After advancing to third on a single by Kasia Smith, Dvorak scored on a pitch to the screen. Katie Tripp drove in the inning’s final run, plating Smith with a sacrifice fly.

The Hotshots increased their lead to five in the third on consecutive bunts. Katie Tripp plated Brandi Heimburg with a sacrifice, and Monique Duran bunted for a single and drove in Smith.

The Heat applied pressure by scoring two runs in the third. Lindsey Skinner hit a line drive up the middle with two outs and the bases loaded for a single and an RBI. Still with bases loaded, Kerry Durnan hit one into the gap in right-center for a single and plated runner Annie Monzon.

The Hotshots scored another run off a Smith sacrifice in the fifth that drove in Heimburg. In the sixth, pitcher Dominique Shone hit a line drive to right for an RBI.

“We can hit the ball better, but the girls found a way to get it done,” said Hotshots coach Chuck Creed. “That’s the way they have been playing all year. We struggle at times, but we find a way to win.”