AZ Hot Sauce Wraps up Summer Season with Tribz Showcase
AZ Hot Sauce Lacrosse’s summer season drew to a close on July 23rd and 24th at the Tribz Lacrosse California Showcase in Irvine, California.
Three Hot Sauce teams spent the weekend enjoying the cooler temps and excellent facilities at the Orange County Great Park. For its third and final tournament of the summer, Hot Sauce fielded three teams – a ‘varsity’ (2023/2024), a ‘junior varsity’ (2025/2026), and a 14u team (2027/2028).
The varsity and junior varsity teams made their strongest showing of the summer, each winning three out of their five games.
The varsity squad starting strong, winning all three of its games on Saturday, taking first place in their pool. Bracket play on Sunday provided to be more difficult, and the varsity squad dropped two games against older and more experienced opponents, ending the weekend in 4th place overall. “Our teams quite often faced adversity in playing against tough competition while also keeping positive attitudes which, ultimately, is what we strive for,” said Hot Sauce director Dan Lannon.
Photo credit - Toni Stickles
The junior varsity team faced a tough draw in pool play on day one, facing the eventual first- and second-place teams to start the weekend 0-2. After what could have been a demoralizing loss, the boys rallied and won their third pool play game and notched two additional wins in bracket play on Sunday. “I was really impressed with their ability to bounce back,” said JV head coach Kyle Mox. “A lot of teams would have packed it in, but our boys dug down deep and found a way to finish strong.” The JV team finished 5th overall.
Photo credit - Toni Stickles
The 14u team ran into some tough competition, and while they failed to notch a win on the weekend, they showed significant growth as a team. “I think each game we got better,” said JV head coach Ryan Berns. “We preach attitude and effort and watched the young men rise to the occasion. We showed tons of energy all the way to the last whistle in Irvine. Some of our players have started to stand out as leaders and we are looking forward to a productive fall.”
Photo credit - Toni Stickles
Prior to the Tribz Showcase, Hot Sauce fielded varsity and junior varsity teams for the first time at the Legends Meltdown in Norco, California, and five different teams at America’s Finest Rivalry in Temecula, California, in June.
The summer of 2022 proved to be a constructive time for Hot Sauce, which sought to rebrand and rebuild itself after the challenges of the previous years’ pandemic lockdowns.
“Our boys got to experience a lot of lacrosse this summer,” commented Berns. “And they learned the power of communication, stick skills, and lacrosse IQ.”
In addition to the competitive travel teams, Hot Sauce also led a six-week “instructional league” for new and less-experienced players. “This summer was a great success in that we had more new players playing lacrosse and learning aspects of the game than ever before,” said Hot Sauce director Dan Lannon. “Thanks to all the parents and coaches that kept the kids out on the fields playing this great game!”
Hot Sauce will resume play in late September, when it begins its fall season instructional league, followed by competitive travel team practices in October. Tryouts for travel teams will take place on Sunday, August 21, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Benedict Park, in Tempe. New players can register for tryouts at the AZ Hot Sauce registration site.
“We have succeeded in building a strong culture,” said Mox. “And we look forward to bringing in some additional players who want to challenge themselves and raise their game to the next level.”
Registration for the fall instructional league will open August 1. The program will include general skills instruction, position-specific instruction, and competitive games and contests. Both new and experienced players in grades K through 8th are invited. For full information, visit https://www.azhotsaucelax.com/leagues.