North Clark Little League’s majors softball team earned a trip to the Washington Little League Softball tournament in Redmond, which began Monday, July 1.
The all-star team of tweens, 11- to 12-year-olds, composed of eight athletes from Yacolt and Amboy and five from La Center, beat Battle Ground, 11-4, in the Washington Little League Softball District 6 championship game at La Center’s Holley Park on Wednesday, June 26. The team’s state tournament journey began Monday, but results were unavailable as of press time.
North Clark Little League head coach Tina Cox and her team were emotional while they celebrated their achievements in the Little League tournament.
“I was telling our girls that I think one of the reasons that we’ve had a successful season is that they’re close off the field, too, and I think that makes a big difference,” Cox said following the team’s District 6 win. “They really support each other on and off the field.”
Both Little League teams’ respective communities packed the softball field to support the girls in the championship game. Along with the loud chants from dugouts, parents and supporters cheered loudly for their teams throughout the game.
“It was very nerve-wracking, but it means the world. [The game] deserves to have this kind of an audience for all the work they’ve put in,” Cox said.
Cox highlighted her team’s offensive strengths with Charlie Yancey hitting three or four home runs during the District 6 tournament. Allison Hust and Megan Cox also added home runs.
The battery of Azilee Allen in the circle and Hannah Becker catching behind the plate also helped the North Clark Little League team lock down the opposing offenses, Tina Cox said.
“These girls are so special to me, like it makes me teary-eyed, and I’m just looking forward to this kind of an excitement for them and just that camaraderie to continue, also,” Tina Cox said last week.
Battle Ground Little League’s majors softball team built a lot of experience in the tournament as it played five total games to earn its way into the District 6 championship game.
The loss on June 26 ended the team’s season, but it still had a lot to celebrate.
“We had probably the youngest team coming in here,” Battle Ground head coach Nichole Stewart said, adding that the all-star team included three 9-year-olds. “... So I’m proud of our girls for battling it out against a lot of older teams playing through this entire thing.”
Stewart added her team included a lot of first-year players on the younger roster, as well.
“We had a lot of injuries, and our girls were just super positive and pulled through and just played their hearts out,” Stewart said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
