7/31/08

Stilly Valley softball team wins Little League title

by Carmell Emory

The 11-12-year-old girls on Arlington’s Stilly Valley softball team are on a quest to become the next regional champions. The team of thirteen girls, together with their coaches and with the support of family and friends, worked hard all summer to bring home the title of 2008 State Champions from the July 17 contest in Walla Walla.

State finals began on July 11 and the girls and their coaches, Butch Diemer and Steve McDonald, battled all week long in 90-degree-plus weather to go to the finals that were held the following Friday. The last team to face was from Sammamish, WA, and Stilly pitcher Hayley Field was able to send six girls back to the bench without any hits. Sammamish was a tough team to beat but the Stilly girls held their shutout reign and took the state title 5-2.

The undefeated fastpitch team headed to Vancouver, WA July 26 for a weeklong regional competition, facing other winning teams from Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, California, and the hosting team, Vancouver, WA. The tournament is based on elimination rounds and only the top two regional teams will advance to the championship the following weekend.

Stilly Valley’s first game was against Oregon on Sunday, July 27.

Manager Brian Fields is really excited for the girls and said, “Our chances of winning are just as good as the other teams. I know there is going to be strong competition there but we’re going with the intention to win.”

A left fielder for the Stilly Girls, 12-year-old Macall McGhee believes strongly in her teammates because they have “good strategies, strong defense and great hitting. We don’t get down if we’re behind, and we don’t get too full of ourselves if we’re ahead.” She is also looking forward to just being out on the road with the other girls. “It’s fun because we get to play different teams from different states, and sleep in hotel rooms,” said Macall.

The girls have set their sights high and are aiming for the next rounds of competition, the National Championship and the World Series to follow. For some players, this intense level of competition will be their first, and Fields understands some of their fears. “Some of them are nervous but they are all gaining experience and getting better everyday.”

Macall’s father, Don McGhee from Marysville, knows just how hard these girls have worked this summer. “These girls have been going since May,” said McGhee, a local firefighter. “When the All Stars started, the girls have been practicing 3 to 4 hours a day, six days a week, and some even more than that. The kids, parents and coaches have dedicated their summer to the game.”

To help support their mission, the team is hoping for sponsors to help with traveling expenses as they inch closer toward their goal of World Series Champions. Sponsorships are a great way for local businesses to advertise their company and support a successful local team.

The Stilly Valley Girls have created a home page for their family, fans and sponsors on eteamz.com: keyword stilly valley. Show your support for the promising team by donating today, either on their home page or by check to the Stilly Valley Little League, P.O. Box 653, Arlington, WA 98223.

Let’s all wish Hayley Fields, Hayden Fields, Savannah Diemer, Katelyn McDonald, Jessica Ludwig, Katelynn Kazen, Amy Revelle, Marisa Rathert, Macall McGhee, Syvannah Cram, Kayla Mashburn, Bailey Hoag, and Kaylyn Myers of the Stilly Valley Girls Softball team, good luck at Regionals.