Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged 4th of July, Central Whidbey Little League, fundraiser, Softball, state tournament on July 2, 2021| Leave a Comment »
“We’re going to state!”
Buy a water, help local softball players.
The Central Whidbey Little League minors diamond dandies are off to the state tourney, but need help raising funds for the trip.
Players will be selling water at Oak Harbor’s 4th of July Parade, which starts Sunday at 11 AM along Bayshore Drive.
Donations will also be accepted, and all money goes towards the player’s food and hotel stay in Auburn.
Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged car wash, Central Whidbey Little League, fundraiser, Softball, state tourney on July 1, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Loto Tupu is a key part of a hot-hitting Whidbey Island All-Stars juniors softball team. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
A car wash this Saturday, July 3, will help fund big softball dreams.
The Whidbey Island All-Stars juniors diamond squad, which features a mix of Coupeville and Oak Harbor players, are the District 11 champs and state-bound.
But the big dance is way down at the bottom of the state in Vancouver, so the Inferno are scrambling to raise money for the trip.
The car wash will be at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7392 in Oak Harbor (3037 Goldie Road) and runs from 10-2.
Or, if you can’t make it there in person, you can help the Inferno players online by popping over to:
Fundraiser by Christi Messner : Whidbey Island LL Juniors go to State (gofundme.com)
Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Aaron Lucero, Central Whidbey Little League, Lark Gustafson, Softball, state tourney on June 30, 2021| Leave a Comment »
The bright future of Coupeville softball. (Photos courtesy Jess Lucero)
Celebrating a season of success. And it’s not done yet.
Coupeville is coming for all your softball trophies.
Two squads will compete for state titles in the coming weeks, with the Central Whidbey Little League minors team joining the Whidbey Island All-Stars juniors in advancing to the big dance.
The minors squad, which features 10 Coupeville girls on a 14-woman roster, features players who range in age from 8-12.
The core of the team is from the original CWLL team, which boasted 16 active players, and two who attended practices. Of those, only four girls had played before this season.
With the postseason upon them, 10 Coupeville players are in playoff mode, having been joined by three others from Oak Harbor, and one from Anacortes.
Both the original team — which was coached by Aaron Lucero and Lark Gustafson, with assistance from Scott Maynes, Ana Valencia, and Sofia Peters — and the playoff squad have made huge strides.
“The girls really worked hard, were committed and had a winning season, and showed amazing growth,” Aaron Lucero said. “I couldn’t be more proud of how far they came in such a short time.”
The minors team had a chance during the season to work with older players such as CHS stars Allie and Maya Lucero, and juniors supernova Teagan Calkins, while high school coaches Kevin McGranahan and Ron Wright attended games.
“We love that community is supporting our young ones and they’re already getting to know the high school coaching staff,” said team mom Jess Lucero.
The minors squad opens the state tourney in Auburn with a tough draw, facing a District 1 team which is pulled from 13 leagues including Everett and Marysville, but Central Whidbey doesn’t back down.
“I’m confident with our ability to compete,” Aaron Lucero said. “I’m happy for the girls to have this opportunity.”
The team:
Capri Anter
Haylee Armstrong
Ava Arnold
Ava Carpenter
Emma Cushman
Ava Lucero
Adeline Maynes
Ali Powers
Bella Salter
Chelsi Stevens
Cammi Van Dyke
Sydney Van Dyke
Gracie Wallin
Sutton Zimmerman
Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Central Whidbey Little League, fundraiser, Softball, state tourney, Whidbey Island Inferno on June 29, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Jada Heaton (front), Mia Farris (getting a ride), and ever-enthusiastic fan/unofficial assistant coach Bella Whalen celebrate a district title. (Jennifer Heaton photo)
Savina Wells rearranges the atoms of a softball (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
On to state!
Help ’em get to Vancouver.
The Whidbey Island All-Stars juniors softball squad — a mix of Coupeville and Oak Harbor players — is off to the state tourney in early July, carrying the banner of District 11 champs.
The Inferno need your help, however.
It’s 210 miles from Whidbey to Vancouver, which sits at the bottom of Washington state, meaning players and parents will need to stay on-site for up to a week, instead of making trips back-and-forth.
But you (yes, you!) can help the Inferno with gas, food, and lodging.
If you do, than in the coming years when the players go on to be high school softball stars, before possibly playing in college and beyond, you can sit back and say, “I helped make that possible.”
So, you’d have that going for you, which is nice.
To see more, and possibly donate to the future (and present) of Whidbey softball, pop over to:
Fundraiser by Christi Messner : Whidbey Island LL Juniors go to State (gofundme.com)
Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Central Whidbey Little League, district tourney, Savina Wells, Softball, Taylor Brotemarkle on June 23, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Savina Wells is one of seven Coupeville girls on the Whidbey Island Inferno All-Stars. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Madison McMillan and Co. are ready to come out swinging. (Jackie Saia photo)
One island, ready to thump on everyone else.
North and Central Whidbey are teaming up for the next round of little league Juniors softball competition.
With seven players from each league, the Whidbey Island Inferno All-Stars are a well-balanced squad, with hopes of making it all the way to the state tourney.
“This is a really solid team with strong pitching, hitting, and depth at each defensive position,” said coach Fred Farris. “It is going to be a lot of fun watching these girls compete this post season.
“Special shout out to North Whidbey manager Shelly Ryder and Central Whidbey coaches Shawn Calkins, Bella Blazek, and Philip Brotemarkle for all their time and efforts for helping get this team ready for the post season.”
The Inferno host a combined South Skagit/Sedro-Woolley/Burlington team in a best-of-three showdown this weekend, with the winner advancing to the big dance.
All games are at Rhododendron Park in Coupeville, with Game 1 at 11 AM Saturday, June 26, and Game 2 at 3 PM the same day. The concession stand will be open.
If a winner-take-all Game 3 is necessary, it will be June 27.
The District 11 champ travels to Vancouver for the state tourney, which kicks off July 10.
The Inferno roster:
Taylor Brotemarkle (CW)
Haylee Burleigh (NW)
Teagan Calkins (CW)
Mia Farris (CW)
Jada Heaton (CW)
Payton Ludemann (NW)
Katie Marti (CW)
Madison McMillan (CW)
Adyson Morales (NW)
Lilly Norman (NW)
Ramona Ryder (NW)
Layla Suto (NW)
Loto Tupu (NW)
Savina Wells (CW)
Manager:
Fred Farris (CW)
Coaches:
Kim Brotemarkle (CW)
Tim Norman (NW)
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