An Excelsior Springs-based summer softball team brought home the silver twice recently. The Cyclones, a group of mostly 16-year-olds whose core has played together since age 8, placed second at the 18A USSSA State Fastpitch Tournament, held June 21-23; and then at the Dust & Diamonds Tournament, a three-day tournament that wrapped Sunday. They played their state tournament games at Legacy Park and their Diamonds & Dust games at Markey Park, USSSA information states. The girls opened the state tournament by cruising to a 7-1 win over Building Champions-White 18A in Pool B play and edged Zephyrs-Brown 6-5, both on June 21. They then won their pool by thumping Diamond Club Premier Foster 11-0 June 22. Placed in the Gold Bracket, the Cyclones defeated the Rapids 18U 2-1 and trounced the Bullpen Psychos 18USB 10-0 before falling 5-2 to the Midwest Mayhem 5-2 in the bracket title game. All bracket games took place June 23. Bella Loeffert ...