- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,255,406
- Reaction score
- 59
West Suburban’s 12-Under Little League Softball World Series-winning team captured the hearts of this region a year ago.
Two members – Reagan Bills and Adalyn Hines – of that unforgettable squad are on this year’s 14-Under unit that is playing in the Junior League Softball World Series starting Sunday in Kirkland, Washington. The golden girls from 2025 in Bills and Hines carved out a championship blueprint, while inspiring their current teammates as the 14U team begins its quest for a world title.
“It definitely motivates us because we have people on our team who can go back to back, which would be really cool for them,” Bryn Roberts said. “Also for us, it will be a really cool experience.”
West Suburban begins Pool B play at 4 p.m. Sunday against Canada (Repentigny, Quebec). All games will be streamed on ESPN+. The local squad faces the West (Palo Cedro, California) at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Southwest (Shiner, Texas) at 4 p.m. Tuesday and Asia-Pacific (Bacolod City, Philippines) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to conclude pool play. The top four teams from each of the two pools advance to the quarterfinals Thursday for a single-elimination bracket that will conclude Aug. 8.
Practice blessing
Father Larry Lacovic (far left) gave a blessing of prayer to the West Suburban team and coaches at their practice at Windber Rec in preparation for their upcoming appearance in the Junior League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington.
Advancing to the final 10 teams in the world is an accomplishment the state and East Region champions relish.
“It’s so exciting,” Kylie Ferguson said.
“I watched Reagan throw every single game last year. That was my biggest dream. I always wanted to do that. For four years now, I’ve been watching every single year and I always imagined myself being out there.”
West Suburban has outscored its opponents 180-7 during a 12-0 postseason, which includes eight shutouts and three contests with the opponents only tallying one run each. The most runs it allowed in a game was four against Delaware in the East regional. West Suburban’s closest contest was a 4-1 win over DuBois July 14, its only one that went a full seven innings.
The local squad has scored 11 or more runs in 11 games, each ending via the 10- or 15-run rule.
Adding another world title to West Suburban’s growing trophy case is on the minds of the players.
“I think that they did it, so we want to do it, too,” Irelyn Scott said. “We saw all the fun that they had, and all the cool things and opportunities that they got to do. We want to be a part of it and go after our own title.”
‘Gotten closer’
As most of the team is in its final season of 14U eligibility, urgency is ramped up.
“It’s definitely really exciting,” Jerzy Bopp said.
“I’m just excited to get to know people from other states and go to the World Series. It’s just a big dream of mine since I was a little girl to be like, ‘Oh, I can be on TV and inspire other little girls to play.’ Last year, I was like, ‘Oh well, we still have next year. We can go get it.’ The team has definitely gotten closer to each other than we were last year. Since the 12s won it all, ‘Well, since they can do it, we can kind of do it, too, if we just work together.’ ”
In 2025, the West Suburban 12U squad went 20-2 with a 139-31 run differential, finishing on a 15-game winning streak.
This year’s 14U team has been more dominant with six formidable pitchers in Bills (5-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 30 innings at the 2025 Little League Softball World Series), Ferguson, Olivia O’Roark, Reese Pinizzotto, Scott and Camdyn Westover.
“We definitely stand out in the pitching aspect,” Bopp said. “We have six incredible pitchers. Even whenever they do get ahold of it, our defense pretty much shuts that down.”
“I think that we have at least six pitchers who can easily go in there, not just one who’s the best,” Roberts said. “It’s just everybody can go in there and do the exact same job as anybody else. Not one single person is better than the other. We’re all pretty even.”
This year’s all-star team meshed quickly and hit the ground running.
“They had really good defense and hitting,” Pinizzotto said of the 2025 12U world champs.
“Honestly, I think our team is a lot more stronger this year. I think it’s because we have more of a connection with each other. Especially our first practice, we just clicked like that. I think that really helps.”
“Our chemistry was really good starting off,” Kylie Sweeney said. “The first practice may have been a little awkward, but everyone was so kind and welcoming, especially to me and all the girls that weren’t really close to everyone from the different teams. It’s really nice to get to know everyone.”
‘Cheer each other on’
After watching the 2025 title run, Westover drew parallels between the two squads.
“I noticed that they all cheer each other on and are all hoping for the best for everybody,” Westover said. “I hope everybody has success and we’ll still be a non-selfish team.”
Hines is taking this year in stride as the youngest one on the team.
“It’s a little different,” Hines said. “The girls on this team are older. This year, I’m the youngest kid. I get to be more mature with the older girls. I feel like that’s a big difference than last year.”
Bills has gained more insight playing with older teammates. In contrast, she was the one all of her teammates looked up to in 2025.
“I’ve just learned so much from them,” Bills said. “They’re such good teammates. It honestly showed me that the friendships made through softball are just so incredible and they’re so different than anything else. Just that the game of softball is more than a game. It’s like life, a game of failure. It’s just been really incredible to go on with this group. I’ve bonded so quickly with these girls. I think our friendship is reflected through the scores because even if someone does strike out or pop out, it’s always pick the next girl up and it’s pass the bat. I just think that this group of girls is really incredible.”
Jake Oswalt is a copy editor for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @TheWizOfOz11.
Continue reading...
Two members – Reagan Bills and Adalyn Hines – of that unforgettable squad are on this year’s 14-Under unit that is playing in the Junior League Softball World Series starting Sunday in Kirkland, Washington. The golden girls from 2025 in Bills and Hines carved out a championship blueprint, while inspiring their current teammates as the 14U team begins its quest for a world title.
“It definitely motivates us because we have people on our team who can go back to back, which would be really cool for them,” Bryn Roberts said. “Also for us, it will be a really cool experience.”
West Suburban begins Pool B play at 4 p.m. Sunday against Canada (Repentigny, Quebec). All games will be streamed on ESPN+. The local squad faces the West (Palo Cedro, California) at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Southwest (Shiner, Texas) at 4 p.m. Tuesday and Asia-Pacific (Bacolod City, Philippines) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to conclude pool play. The top four teams from each of the two pools advance to the quarterfinals Thursday for a single-elimination bracket that will conclude Aug. 8.
Practice blessing
Father Larry Lacovic (far left) gave a blessing of prayer to the West Suburban team and coaches at their practice at Windber Rec in preparation for their upcoming appearance in the Junior League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington.
Advancing to the final 10 teams in the world is an accomplishment the state and East Region champions relish.
“It’s so exciting,” Kylie Ferguson said.
“I watched Reagan throw every single game last year. That was my biggest dream. I always wanted to do that. For four years now, I’ve been watching every single year and I always imagined myself being out there.”
West Suburban has outscored its opponents 180-7 during a 12-0 postseason, which includes eight shutouts and three contests with the opponents only tallying one run each. The most runs it allowed in a game was four against Delaware in the East regional. West Suburban’s closest contest was a 4-1 win over DuBois July 14, its only one that went a full seven innings.
The local squad has scored 11 or more runs in 11 games, each ending via the 10- or 15-run rule.
Adding another world title to West Suburban’s growing trophy case is on the minds of the players.
“I think that they did it, so we want to do it, too,” Irelyn Scott said. “We saw all the fun that they had, and all the cool things and opportunities that they got to do. We want to be a part of it and go after our own title.”
‘Gotten closer’
As most of the team is in its final season of 14U eligibility, urgency is ramped up.
“It’s definitely really exciting,” Jerzy Bopp said.
“I’m just excited to get to know people from other states and go to the World Series. It’s just a big dream of mine since I was a little girl to be like, ‘Oh, I can be on TV and inspire other little girls to play.’ Last year, I was like, ‘Oh well, we still have next year. We can go get it.’ The team has definitely gotten closer to each other than we were last year. Since the 12s won it all, ‘Well, since they can do it, we can kind of do it, too, if we just work together.’ ”
In 2025, the West Suburban 12U squad went 20-2 with a 139-31 run differential, finishing on a 15-game winning streak.
This year’s 14U team has been more dominant with six formidable pitchers in Bills (5-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 30 innings at the 2025 Little League Softball World Series), Ferguson, Olivia O’Roark, Reese Pinizzotto, Scott and Camdyn Westover.
“We definitely stand out in the pitching aspect,” Bopp said. “We have six incredible pitchers. Even whenever they do get ahold of it, our defense pretty much shuts that down.”
“I think that we have at least six pitchers who can easily go in there, not just one who’s the best,” Roberts said. “It’s just everybody can go in there and do the exact same job as anybody else. Not one single person is better than the other. We’re all pretty even.”
This year’s all-star team meshed quickly and hit the ground running.
“They had really good defense and hitting,” Pinizzotto said of the 2025 12U world champs.
“Honestly, I think our team is a lot more stronger this year. I think it’s because we have more of a connection with each other. Especially our first practice, we just clicked like that. I think that really helps.”
“Our chemistry was really good starting off,” Kylie Sweeney said. “The first practice may have been a little awkward, but everyone was so kind and welcoming, especially to me and all the girls that weren’t really close to everyone from the different teams. It’s really nice to get to know everyone.”
‘Cheer each other on’
After watching the 2025 title run, Westover drew parallels between the two squads.
“I noticed that they all cheer each other on and are all hoping for the best for everybody,” Westover said. “I hope everybody has success and we’ll still be a non-selfish team.”
Hines is taking this year in stride as the youngest one on the team.
“It’s a little different,” Hines said. “The girls on this team are older. This year, I’m the youngest kid. I get to be more mature with the older girls. I feel like that’s a big difference than last year.”
Bills has gained more insight playing with older teammates. In contrast, she was the one all of her teammates looked up to in 2025.
“I’ve just learned so much from them,” Bills said. “They’re such good teammates. It honestly showed me that the friendships made through softball are just so incredible and they’re so different than anything else. Just that the game of softball is more than a game. It’s like life, a game of failure. It’s just been really incredible to go on with this group. I’ve bonded so quickly with these girls. I think our friendship is reflected through the scores because even if someone does strike out or pop out, it’s always pick the next girl up and it’s pass the bat. I just think that this group of girls is really incredible.”
Jake Oswalt is a copy editor for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @TheWizOfOz11.
Continue reading...
