Softball

Little League Softball World Series: Meet the 12 Teams

August 12, 2022 by Tara S

By: Emma Hruby | Just Women’s Sports

The Little League Softball World Series begins Tuesday, marking the second year in a row that the event has graced the fields of Greenville, N.C.

For the first time, the competition features 12 teams in a brand-new expanded bracket. A total of eight U.S. teams and four international teams are going for the title.

LLSWS TEAMS

Central: Daniel Boone Little League (Columbia, Mo.)

For the second straight year, Daniel Boone represents the Central Region. The team placed third last year and looks this year to become the first team from Missouri to win the tournament.

Mid-Atlantic: Delmar (Md.) Little League

A newcomer, Delmar recorded 48 runs across four games in the the first-ever Mid-Atlantic Region tournament. The defending state champion is the only team from Maryland to make it to the LLSWS.

Northwest: Issaquah (Wash.) Little League

Issaquah features a one-two punch in star pitchers Shaelyn Erickson and London White. The team went undefeated in its regional tournament to reach the LLSWS for the seventh time.

Southwest: Midway Little League (Hewitt, Texas)

A three-time LLSWS champion from Texas, Midway nearly missed the tournament after losing to Louisiana early in the Southwest Region tournament. The team rebounded in the championship game and aims to win the World Series once again.

North Carolina (Host): Pitt County Girls Softball Little League

Pitt County beat two-time LLWS champions Rowan to claim the first spot in Greenville in early July.

New England: Milford (Conn.) Little League

Another team with a dominant pitching duo, Milford went 4-0 in the first-ever New England Regional softball tournament. With 18 strikeouts over four victories, the team allowed just three earned runs.

Southeast: Chesterfield (Va.) Little League

This year’s appearance from Chesterfield marks the seventh time a team from Virginia will make the tournament. It’s the second-straight trip to the LLSWS for Chesterfield, which went 3-0 in the regional tournament, including a 4-3 against Rowan (N.C.) in the championship game.

West: La Verne (Calif.) Little League

The 22nd team from California to make the tournament, La Verne scored 30 runs in the West Region tournament and allowed just one. Pitcher Katie Coldiron has been outstanding in the circle, recording 44 strikeouts since the start of district tournament play.

Asia-Pacific: Negros Occidental Little League (Philippines)

The Asia-Pacific champion is trying to become the first team from its region to win the LLSWS.

Latin America: Guayama (Puerto Rico) Softball Little League

Guayama makes its first-ever appearance at the LLSWS and is the first Puerto Rican team to represent the Latin American Region since 2017.

Canada: St. Albert Softball Little League

The Canadian team did not drop a game in its regional championship run and has won 38 total gamest this season compared to just six losses. St. Albert logged two double-digit run games in the regional tournament.

Europe and Africa: Emilia Romagna Little League (Italy)

Emilia Romagna becomes the first Italian team in the tournament since 2019. The group is looking to be the first international team to win the tournament since 2001.

[Read more…]

BOB ADAMS APPOINTED AS COMMISSIONER FOR USA SOFTBALL OF ILLINOIS

January 5, 2022 by Tara S

OKLAHOMA CITY – USA Softball, a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization announced today that Bob Adams (Peoria, Ill.) has been appointed as Commissioner for USA Softball of Illinois. Adams will assume the role following the retirement of Commissioner Don Brewer.

“I’m honored to be selected as the Commissioner for USA Softball of Illinois and I appreciate the leadership Commissioner Don Brewer has provided during his tenure,” said Adams. “I’m looking forward to working with this talented and dedicated staff to continue to build the USA Softball of Illinois program while giving our adult and youth teams the experience they deserve.”

Adams steps into the role of Commissioner for USA Softball of Illinois after holding the title of Junior Olympic (JO) Commissioner for the last 21 years, having previously served as both District and Deputy JO Commissioner for the state of Illinois. Adams has been a member of the USA Softball National Council since 2000 and has assisted in running 13 National Championships for the organization. A recipient of the Team Registration Award in 2001, Adams has played a huge part in the growth of softball in his home state and looks forward to increasing participation across all levels of the sport in Illinois.

Before diving deeper into the administrative side of the game, Adams got his start as a player in men’s fast pitch and slow pitch with a career that spanned 15 years. He then transitioned into a coaching role where he also sponsored his teams through his company, Melton Electric Co. Inc. Under his direction, the Melton Outlaws girls’ fast pitch team won 11 Illinois USA Softball State Championships, seven Region 10 Championships and participated in 23 USA Softball National Championships. In 1997, Adams was inducted into the USA Softball of Illinois Hall of Fame as a Manager/Sponsor/Commissioner.

For more information on USA Softball of Illinois, please contact Bob Adams at rjadams1947@gmail.com.

CATARINA MACARIO, CHLOE KIM AND MORE: 20 FEMALE ATHLETES TO KNOW IN 2022

December 21, 2021 by Tara S

As 2021 comes to an end, it’s time to look forward to the year ahead in sports.

With the Winter Olympics in February, March Madness on the calendar and a landmark NWSL season to come, women’s sports fans are in store for an exciting year.

Here are the 20 athletes to know or get reacquainted with in 2022:

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Catch Team USA Softball at The World Games 2022

August 11, 2021 by Tara S

THE WORLD GAMES 2022
SEE TEAM USA & ALABAMA’S HALEY McCLENEY GO FOR THE GOLD MEDAL

In July 2022, The World Games will be held in Alabama and the softball competition will take place at the Hoover Met. The silver medalists from this week’s Tokyo Olympics, Team USA, will compete next year for both a Gold Medal and a Softball World Championship.

Tickets are selling fast! You don’t want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.

BUY TICKETS

TICKET PACKAGES

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ODICCI ALEXANDER SIGNS WITH USSSA PRIDE

June 15, 2021 by Tara S

Odicci Alexander is going to the pros.

The former JMU pitcher and breakout WCWS star has been drafted to the USSSA Pride.

It makes her the third former Duke to sign with the team, including Jailyn Ford and Megan Good.

Alexander helped lead the Dukes to their first Women’s College World Series appearance in program history, throwing 1,229 total pitches throughout the tournament. She amassed an 18-3 record in the circle with a 1.71 ERA, 204 strikeouts and was named to the all-tournament team.

It’s not like this is the first year Alexander has been great at what she does. She was the 2017 Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year. In 2018 and 2019 she was the CAA Player of the Year, and this year was named Pitcher of the Year.

[Read more…]

Campbellsport Softball Player with Cancer Receives Help from Opposing Team

June 14, 2021 by Tara S

By Jason Zimmerman

WAUPUN, Wis. (WBAY) – Some much needed help for a Campbellsport teenager battling brain cancer.

Alexis Feucht plays high school girls softball and in a game Monday night the opposing team took action.

Before Feucht could take the field in Waupun, it was hard not to notice the bake sale and raffle being done, as an attempt to raise money in her fight against brain cancer.

Feucht, who plays shortstop, was diagnosed last fall after a series of bad headaches wouldn’t go away.

She said, “I had no idea what was going on. We thought it was sinuses, we thought it was just because I had a heavy case load for school.”

As Feucht undergoes treatment, she continues to play sports.

She also has friends in Waupun, on the opposing team, and they wanted to help and raise awareness.

“It was also a school project and it started like this could be a small little community event and just to like help as much as we can and it turned into something so much bigger and so much better than we could have imagined,” said friend and event organizer Makenya Potratz.

Dulcie Kind was also among the organizers.

She added, “I’ve known Alexis since we were young and she’s always been a good motivator for me and I played with her on the softball field and she always gives it her hardest and not once since this whole journey she’s been thru has she given up, nothing like that and she keep pushing forward.”

All of the money from the event will help cover the family’s medical expenses. The goal is to raise at least a thousand dollars, knowing that every little bit helps.

Feucht responded, “I am super thankful. It’s unbelievable how much the small towns have come together to just help me out and just makes be feel so much better about having what I have.”

Before the game, Feucht also addressed the crowd, saying she’s optimistic about her chances for a full recovery.

“I’m hoping that it goes within the year of chemo, but you know, I’m going to do what it takes to get rid of this crap,” she told the crowd.

Bradford Softball Team Caps Historic Season with School’s First State Title

June 14, 2021 by Tara S

By Greg Billing, Contributing WriterRailroaders

AKRON – The texts started coming in the fifth inning. By the sixth and seventh innings Shon Schaffer’s phone was vibrating almost non-stop with congratulations and celebratory texts.

The Bradford Railroaders’ softball team was still nine outs away from the school’s first team state championship in any sport. But with standout hurler Skipp Miller dealing her 60 mph-plus fastball and a standout defense behind her, Schaffer’s team had Bradford buzzing with confidence.

“I wanted to play more,” said Maggie Manuel. “I was like please don’t end in a run rule.”

Three Bradford teams have reached the state semifinals. The 1982 football team lost 7-6 to Fostoria St. Wendelin. The 2018 softball team lost to Jeromesville Hillsdale, the eventual state champs, 1-0 in eight innings. And now the 2021 Railroaders, who broke through with a dominating tournament run.

Bradford (30-2) outscored their seven postseason opponents 64-1. The Railroaders, ranked No. 4 in the final Ohio High School Softball Coaches poll, knocked off No. 2 New Riegel, No. 3 Mechanicsburg and No. 6 Cuyahoga Heights along the way.

“She’s definitely the best pitcher in the state,” Cuyahoga Heights coach Kyle Manfredonia said. “That rise ball is hard when it’s coming from that low to where it’s ending. It’s like the Montana Fouts girl throwing for Alabama. It’s impossible to hit when it’s coming that fast. She kept it moving and her change-up was sick. She’s good. Really good.”

Miller threw her 12th no-hitter of the season in the state semifinals on Friday in a 11-0, 5-inning victory against New Riegel.

She finished this season with 414 strikeouts, which ranks third in OHSAA single-season history behind Batavia Clermont Northeastern’s Emily Anderson (432 in 2010) and Rocky River’s Leah Black (455 in 1999). Her 12 no-hitters are No. 2 in single-season history behind Richwood North Union’s Jessica Price (15 in 2000).

“Okay, yes, now that I look back and it’s the only hit of the game (it disappointed me),” said a smiling Miller in the postgame interview session. “I should have warmed up more.”

Miller said she battled her nerves through the early innings and felt almost panicked at times with the pressure to win. After that, it was vintage Miller.

“When I got to the fourth inning I finally got my nerves down I felt great. I felt unstoppable,” she said.

Bradford’s offense was, too. New Riegel surrendered a season-high 11 runs against Bradford (and the only team to score double digits). The eight against Cuyahoga Heights was one away from the most runs the Redskins allowed in a game this season.

Nine different Railroaders had hits in the championship game and seven different players scored.

Austy Miller and Abby Fike both had four hits in the state tournament, while Emma Canan and Samantha “Buzz” Brewer each had three. Rylee Canan knocked in three runs and both Millers and E. Canan had two RBI each. E. Canan scored four runs, A. Miller three and Nylani Beireis three and Brewer two.

On defense, third baseman Maggie Manuel had a pair of standout plays in the title game. She chased down a foul ball for one out and charged a slow grounder and threw to Beireis for another.

“(Friday) I was begging just hit me the ball, please,” Manuel said. “Me and Abby (at shortstop) always talk about how we have no action ever. That’s what happens when you have a good pitcher. … I’ve been caught off guard plenty of times. I just try to tell myself the ball could be hit to me at any time. It could happen so I try to keep my head in the game.”

Bradford graduates five seniors from the state championship team with Brewer, E. Canan, Manuel, S. Miller, and Courtney Monnin.

“I’ve got 19 of them that love this game of softball. It was really fun,” said Schaffer, who completed his eighth year as coach. “They make me look like a really good coach because they’re so talented. All 19 of them, all the way through, make my job pretty easy.

“I don’t want this to end. Once we get back home you’ll always have it but not together like this. You just want to savor it.”

‘Student of the Game’: Pitching Ace Paige McAllister the Heartbeat of Tremont Softball

June 8, 2021 by Tara S

Adam Duvall | Peoria Journal Star

TREMONT — Here’s the situation: Tremont leads Illinois Valley Central by a run in the final inning of a Class 2A regional championship softball game. IVC has runners on second and third with no outs. The current batter has a 3-0 count.

Not an ideal scenario with the season on the line.

But not everyone has Paige McAllister in the circle.

All the scores:2021 IHSA softball state tournament schedule, scores, pairings for the Peoria area

The Tremont senior battled back to get a strikeout for the first out, then fell behind 3-1 before sitting down the next batter. She then worked the count full before getting a swinging strike to end the game.

“It’s definitely rattling for a pitcher,” McAllister said of the near disaster, “but I mean, I have confidence in my defense. I know, in the end, I just got to trust my stuff and trust my catcher to catch it. I know my abilities. I just got to stick to that. Be confident.

[Read more…]

AGSA Softball Camp

June 8, 2021 by Tara S

The American Gold Sports Alliance is hosting our first Summer Softball Camp July 12th-15th! Learn new skills and drills while having fun with current and former collegiate softball players! Softball camps are camps created with one purpose: Making you a better softball player. With a player-to-coach ratio of 5 to 1, there’s always someone to help you. Never played softball before? Not a problem! Been playing for years? That’s great too! No matter the skill level your athlete be challenged every day through drills, scrimmage games, and training sessions focused on your position. Campers will learn from the best coaches, work with teammates that are just as passionate about the game as they are, and have fun while doing it! Our coaches are all USA Softball Certified and are excited to work with your athlete!

Learn More: https://agsa.org/softball-camp-july-2021/

DATE: July 12th-15th