La Verne Girls Softball Association all-stars practice hard, but also leave time for plenty of fun, too.
School may be out for summer, but nobody is busier right now than the all-star players from the La Verne Girls Softball Association. Every weekend, its top players from the 12U, 10U and 8U divisions are playing in outstanding tournaments that will lead to the district playoffs in Corona, Calif. in late June, and the state championships in Palmdale, Calif. over the July 4 weekend.
LV vs. RC: 10U La Verne pitcher Taylor Alley gives everything she's got on every pitch.
After back-to-back weekend tournaments in Clairemont San Diego and at home in La Verne, all three divisions traveled to Rancho Cucamonga this past weekend.
At Windrows Park, the 10U all-stars defeated Glendora 2-0 on Friday night, but fell Saturday afternoon to Sammy Diaz and the Rancho Cucamonga all-stars, 10-2. La Verne pushed across its two runs in the fourth after a walk to Sierra Korn and a single by Marina Williams, who eventually both came around to score on a bad-hop single by pitcher Taylor Alley.
Meanwhile, across town at the Epicenter, it was bombs away for the 12Us who pounded Lake Elsinore, 16-2. In the fourth, La Verne scored 10 runs. In the inning Leticia Morales and Hailey Long both walked a pair of times, while Jenna Gonzalez, Lauren Caderaro, Brittany Griffin, Lindsey Hughes and Veronica Oretega each walked once. Chelsea Carpenter and Alexis Davis also singled in the inning. If we learned anything about the La Verne 12Us, we learned the green and white are not only good hitters, but also patient ones. Hailey Long got the win for La Verne.
On Friday night, La Verne defeated Montclair 6-1.
Going from game to game, watching all the action is LVGSA President Kevin McClure.
“All of our divisions are very competitive,” he said. “This is the first year we’ve been in the ‘B’ league. Last year, we sent three teams to the state, our 14s, 12s and our 10s. Everybody did very well in state, and when you win too many championships they move you up.”
LV vs. RC: Ready for launch
To qualify this year for state, each La Verne division will compete in the Northeast district championships in late June in Corona, which again follows a full three-day weekend schedule of games. Any or all of the La Verne teams that finish among the top three teams in their division will advance to the state playoffs.
While the upcoming district playoffs have a win-or-go-home quality about them, it also provides teams that may not have been performing their best early in the summer one last chance to show their true quality.
“You could finish last in every one of these current tournaments we’re playing in, but place in the top three in the district and move on,” added McClure.
For now for all the girls and their La Verne coaches, it’s one tournament at a time, with each game providing an opportunity to improve. Next week, all three LVGSA divisions will be in Glendora.
Come out and see the city’s future softball stars.
La Verne vs. Elsinore: You're not catching me today!
Smile
12U Roster
Brittany Griffin, Loraine Gatlin, Lindsey Hughes, Veronica Ortega, Chelsea Carpenter, Shelbie Moore, Leticia Morales,, Hailey Long, Jenna Gonzalez, Lauren Calderaro, Alexis Davis and Mikayla Carillo.
10U Roster
Taylor Alley, Dakota Casper, Morgan Dunville, Lauren Flores, Brooke Jackson, Megan Jones, Sierra Korn, Destinee Lopez, Jasmine Ortiz, Gianna “Gigi” Rossi, Gabriella Underwood and Mariana Williams.
Super Smile. Megan Jones not pictured.
8U (to follow)
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