12-Under Virginia champs, 10-Under runner ups raising $ for Florida trips

By Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report

The weekend of July 17-18, two local Babe Ruth League girls fast pitch softball teams representing the Warren County Girls Softball Association will be conducting fundraisers to help facilitate trips to the Southeast Regional Tournament to be held in Alamonte Springs, Florida, near Tampa this coming week.

Both teams did their community proud last week in Richmond at the State Tournament. The Front Royal 12-and-Under girls won the Virginia State Championship and the 10-and-Under team was runner up, earning a regional berth as the state’s second place qualifier from divisions representing nearly 270 Babe Ruth League teams throughout the state. Both teams are anticipating expenses of around $10,000 to cover transportation, accommodations, meals and miscellaneous tournament expenses for the teams, coaches and family members able to make the trip.

The squads are heading into this weekend going full bore to assure they have the funds to head to Florida for Tuesday regional team check-ins and orientation meetings. Tournaments play begins on Wednesday, July 21 and progresses to the weekend.

If you are in town this Saturday or Sunday keep your eyes open for car washes and bake sales set up as team fundraisers. Contact numbers for those wishing to contribute directly to the teams is also posted below.

Events:

The 12-and-Unders will be hosting a car wash Saturday and Sunday, July 17-18 at the Royal Oak Tavern parking lot at 101 W. 14th Street on Front Royal’s northside from 10 a.m. till there are no more dirty cars left within the town limits;
The 10-and-unders will host a bake sale at Andrick’s Flea Market on Saturday, July 17;
and car washes at both Auto Zone and the Rite Aid parking lots this weekend as well.

Contacts:

For those not passing through town or who already have clean cars and all the baked goods they need, contributions for the teams can be made through the following individuals:

12-U – Aletha Craig, 540 671-0466 or Buzzy Williams, 540 636-4787 or 540 335-6442;
10-U – For more info on these efforts the league may be contacted at 540 974-9879.

Roster, 12-U Virginia State Champions:

Michala Caison, Emma Wright, Carrie Robinson (State Tourney MVP), Caitlyn Manuel, Myranda Garber, Makela Dawkins, Samantha Santmyers, Victoria Hamilton, Savannah Jones, Samantha Swecker, Ashley Williams, Amanda Kresge. Coach Todd Robinson noted that unfortunately two players, Manuel and Jones will not be able to make the trips due to other family commitments.

State Results, 12 and Under:
Glen Allen, W 2-1;
New Kent, L 10-1;
Varina, W 7-0;
Shenandoah, W 4-3;
Albemarle, W 10-0;
Championship Round
New Kent, W 4-1;
New Kent, W 3-2

Roster, 10-U Virginia State Runner Ups:

Annslee Cockrell, Natasha Grayson, Tamara Grayson, Kima Robinson, Georgia Romer, Kelsi Caison, Myrissa Garber, Rachel Sirbaugh, Camryn Greene, Jayda Saulsbury, Savannah Haffer, Lissette Maya, Libby Hipple and Karlee LeHew. As with the 12 and Unders, Coaches Mike Haffer and Angie Caison noted some loss of personnel – Maya, Hipple and LeHew – for the trip due to other family commitments and circumstances.

State Results, 10 and Under:
West Loudoun, W 17-7;
Glen Allen, L 6-0;
Albemarle, W 9-3;
Skyline, W 7-3;
Rockville, W 10-5;
Championship Round
Glen Allen, L 8-2;

Congratulations to all the players and coaches for jobs well done – GO GIRLS!!!

You can keep up with Regional Tournament results and info at the official tourney website:

http://www.altamontesports.org/softballregional.php

Warren’s 12-U Virginia State Champions begin North Division Regional Pool play on Wednesday at 6 p.m. versus Kinston Lenoir, NC. Other North Division teams include Creeks, St. John’s, FLA.; and West Ashley, Charleston, SC. One North Division team has already announced its forfeit of a place in the tournament due to the same financial and personnel issues faced by all teams at this point.

South Division teams include the host Altamonte Springs, FLA, Marshall County, TENN, New Kent, VA, and Orange Park, FLA.

The 12-U Regional Championship Round begins Saturday, July 24 at the Seminole Softball Complex with the Championship game at 8 a.m. on Sunday, July 25 at the same location.

Warren’s 10-U Virginia State Runner Ups begin South Division Regional Pool play at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 22, against Creeks, St John’s FLA. Other South Division teams include host Alamonte Springs, FLA; Marshall County, TENN; Down East, Smyma, NC.

North Division teams include Ponte Vedra, FLA; Pitt County, NC, Ocala, FLA; Goose Creek, SC; and Glen Allen, VA. There was also one team forfeit announced at the 10-U level.

The Regional Championship Round at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Merrill Park and concludes with the Championship game at noon on Sunday, July 25, also at Merrill Park Field.