By Matt Wiley
It’s one thing for a youth sports team from any town to compete for the title of the best in the U.S., but having two teams from Wesley Chapel competing for that title is something completely different.
During the July 4 weekend, the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA)’s Darlings (7-8 year olds), All-Star Angels (9-10 year olds) and Ponytails (11-12 year olds) girls softball teams each competed in the Dixie League State Championship in Tallahassee. By the end of the three-day tournament, both the Angels and Ponytails were State Champions. Now, both teams are looking to make history by winning the Dixie League World Series in Carthage, NC, a six-day tournament that begins on Friday, August 7, and they need your help to get there (see below for more info)!
Both teams ended up having to defeat a team three times in a row for the title.
“We had a tough run (at the State tourney),” says Angels manager Joel Eason, who explains that after a 2-1 win over Belleview, the team fell to Wewahitchka (Wewa) 1-0 and had to play Wewa two more times, winning 8-5 and then 2-0 to take the State title.
“It was pitching and defense that really held it down for us,” Eason says. “One of the things we talked to the girls extensively about was playing ‘simple’ softball, not trying to do too much and sticking to the skills we’ve been working on all season.”
The WCAA All-Star teams are comprised of 12 girls from each age group who were chosen from the 48 girls who played during the recreational season. Eason says that he knew the girls were a special team from when they first began playing together, especially because of the team’s pitching depth.
“I said that we may run into a team with one pitcher as good (as one of ours), but not three (as good as our three),” he explains. “We were confident that if these girls pitched the way they were capable, we were going to do well. You coach long enough, you’re able to see what you have and what you don’t.”
He seems to be correct so far. Angels pitchers Ahmari Arca, Elise Eason (Eason’s daughter) and Ireland Sibbitt collectively threw 37 strikeouts during four games of the State tournament, allowing only 14 walks, 15 hits and a total of 7 runs. The WCAA Angels scored 12 runs on 15 hits and 22 walks.
Eason says that during the final game of the tournament, something particularly exciting happened: three Wesley Chapel teams were competing for the State Championship at the same time on three different fields. The Darlings may have suffered a tough 12-11 loss, but the Ponytails put together a spectacular rally for the title against the age 11-12 team from Marianna, FL.
“We were down 7-3 going into the last inning,” recalls Ponytails manager Tyler Finn, who explains that the team was able to put players on base and start moving them into scoring position. After batting in one run, two Ponytails got on base in time for Aubrey McLeod to smash a three-run homer to tie the game.
“The players and families were bouncing off the walls,” Finn says. “We were able to drive in one more run for the 8-7 lead. And then, we still had to hold them for the final three outs.”
Finn says that the after first Marianna batter got on base, the second hit a grounder that resulted in a double play.
“You don’t see many double plays at that age level,” Finn says. “Then, it came down to their last batter and our pitcher Hailey Vazquez struck her out on a 2-2 count. The girl got caught looking and we won the State championship.”
Finn says that he, too, knew that this year’s group of Ponytails was a special team and that their chemistry had been a big part of their success so far.
“(The girls) have a lot of heart,” Finn says. “They didn’t give up in a game that they probably shouldn’t have won. We had a theme from the beginning — sisters.”
Finn explains that, while many of the girls already knew each other before getting on the All-star team, he wanted them to know that they were all sisters and that they were going to work together.
“It built friendships deeper than just on the softball field,” Finn says.
How You Can Help!
The two teams have made it to the Dixie League World Series, but they’re not there yet. Sending 24 families to Carthage, NC, for the six-day tournament is estimated to cost about $20,000, and the teams have been hard at work fund-raising as group at a number of different locations since they got back from the State tournament
“We’re working hard to raise money so that the families don’t get beaten up (financially),” Finn says, adding that any help is greatly appreciated and that checks for donations should be made out to “WCAA” with “World Series” in the memo, so that’s the only place the money can go.
“Every once in a while, we’ll send a team to the World Series, but never two,” Finn says. “It’s unprecedented. If we win, it’ll be a major accomplishment and they should have parades for these kids if we do because the competition is going to be incredible at that level.”
For more information, or to make a donation, visit Facebook.com/SoftballWorldSeries. You also can call Coach Finn at 313-8374.
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