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WINDBER, Pa. – With the West Suburban 12-Under team winning the 2025 Little League Softball World Series, seven members of the squad moved up to the next age level.
Stars Reagan Bills and Adalyn Hines from the 2025 world championship team made a successful transition to the 14-Under level. This year’s 14U squad is 12-0 in the postseason after winning four games, three by shutout, at the East Region Tournament.
West Suburban begins play in the Junior League Softball World Series at 4 p.m. Sunday against Canada in Kirkland, Washington.
Many talented players vied to make the 14U team, but only 12 were chosen. Those dozen advanced through the district, section, state and regional tournaments unscathed thanks to a very competitive league overall.
“We had 20 good girls,” West Suburban 14U manager Rick Roberts said. “To get down to the final 12, it’s not easy because you’re looking at 15 or 16.
“Those final three or four are so close. It’s like flipping a coin. Then it goes by where your needs are, where you think you need some depth.
“It is tough because we do have an area full of talent. We have a good committee that does it.
“We have good evaluators. I feel very confident with what we got are the right 12.”
Team members include Cambria Heights’ Bills, Central Cambria’s Abigail Claar and Kylie Ferguson, Conemaugh Valley’s Hines, Forest Hills’ Jerzy Bopp and Bryn Roberts, Portage’s Reese Pinizzotto and Camdyn Westover, Richland’s Irelyn Scott, Westmont Hilltop’s Kylie Sweeney and Windber’s Cameron Mash and Olivia O’Roark. Ron Mash and Rick Westover are the assistant coaches.
The region has had teams perform well in recent memory. Indiana Little League advanced to the 2024 and 2025 Junior League Softball World Series semifinals.
This squad’s run was made possible with Ranger Youth League, V.E. Arbutus and West Suburban combining to form one league.
“I think the biggest hurdle was to get the whole area to come together and form a league to where this could happen,” Rick Roberts said. “I credit West Suburban, Forest Hills and V.E. for making this change, putting the kids first and allowing these three leagues to combine. With that, you have the force of our whole county and upper Somerset County to really do some damage. Without that, it would be tough because one league isn’t going to be able to go and do what we do.”
‘Very versatile’
Rick Roberts assessed his dynamic team one by one.
Bills pitched every inning during the 2025 championship season at the 12U level, and also plays infield.
“She’s very versatile,” Rick Roberts said.
“She’s obviously a good shortstop and a good pitcher. She’s very mature. With the social media following, there’s a lot of people that come up to her. The biggest thing with me is she treats everybody like they’re her family. She’s very professional. She takes time to talk to all the kids. That’s the most impressive thing for me is her maturity and how good of a kid she is.”
Claar plays multiple positions well.
“She’s tough,” Rick Roberts said. “She can play third base. She can play outfield. She’s very versatile. She’s a solid hitter.”
Ferguson dissects opposing hitters with precision in the circle.
“She’s like the Greg Maddux of the staff,” Rick Roberts said. “She also plays first base when Liv pitches. She’s a grinder. She’s a good at-bat. She doesn’t strike out.”
Hines provides thump in the middle of the order.
“She’s a great catcher,” Rick Roberts said.
“She’s a very good leader. She probably has the most pop as far as raw power in our lineup. She hits fourth and she hits some balls really far. She has some big home runs for us, especially the grand slam against Delaware.”
Bopp’s athleticism stands out in center field.
“She’s a pure athlete,” Rick Roberts said.
“She also can play short. Her skill set in center field, there’s not many balls that get down. She has a plus arm. She can run.
“She’s a competitor at the plate.”
Bryn Roberts hits second is solid in the field wherever she plays.
“She’s versatile,” Rick Roberts said. “She can play every position besides pitch. She grew up playing baseball, so she’s pretty tough. She played travel baseball until she was 12. She’s probably a little bit more mature in the dugout than most girls because she’s been in a college dugout since she was 4 or 5. She’s a very good leader.
“She’s finally starting to mature. She has a great bat. She hasn’t struck out at all yet.
“She just finds a way to get on.”
Scott is a precision pitcher and serves as a second leadoff batter.
“She’s a great left fielder,” Rick Roberts said. “She also plays second if we need her.
“She’s our extra leadoff hitter. She turns over the lineup with singles and walks. She’s there for a reason.”
Pinizzotto is a left-handed batter and pitcher with a lethal off-speed weapon.
“She’s our power lefty,” Rick Roberts said. “She’s got a devastating changeup.
“She probably has a Randy Johnson fastball and a Jamie Moyer changeup. She can hit for power. She’s very athletic. She’s our only lefty, which is huge because she’s a good change from our righties.”
Camdyn Westover brings value in the circle and in the box.
“She probably has the best pure swing from the left side,” Rick Roberts said. “She can hit for power. She can hit gap to gap. She’s also one of our power right-handed arms.
“She’s big and strong. She’s just a great kid with a very good swing, one of our big bats we rely on to get a lot of RBIs.”
Sweeney has progressed due to her constantly working on her craft.
“She’s a very big hitter,” Rick Roberts said. “She can play any position in the outfield. She can catch, play third or first. She’s probably one of the most enjoyable kids on the team because she’s just a great teammate. She’s always upbeat and having fun.
“She’s come a long way. She’s a very hard worker.”
Mash provides a spark at the top of the lineup.
“She’s our leadoff hitter,” Rick Roberts said.
“She finds a way to get on. She plays a really good second. She’s also a good center fielder. She can run. She can hit. She is a very high contact player. She can hit to all fields.”
O’Roark supplies power as a pitcher and as a feared batter.
“She’s probably the ace of our staff,” Rick Roberts said. “She’s also our three hitter.
“She’s a super-kid. She was really quiet up until this year. She sort of came out of her shell. She’s an unreal pitcher with four or five solid pitches. She can hit for power.
“She hits to all fields. She’s the most feared player on our team.”
Jake Oswalt is a copy editor for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @TheWizOfOz11.
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Stars Reagan Bills and Adalyn Hines from the 2025 world championship team made a successful transition to the 14-Under level. This year’s 14U squad is 12-0 in the postseason after winning four games, three by shutout, at the East Region Tournament.
West Suburban begins play in the Junior League Softball World Series at 4 p.m. Sunday against Canada in Kirkland, Washington.
Many talented players vied to make the 14U team, but only 12 were chosen. Those dozen advanced through the district, section, state and regional tournaments unscathed thanks to a very competitive league overall.
“We had 20 good girls,” West Suburban 14U manager Rick Roberts said. “To get down to the final 12, it’s not easy because you’re looking at 15 or 16.
“Those final three or four are so close. It’s like flipping a coin. Then it goes by where your needs are, where you think you need some depth.
“It is tough because we do have an area full of talent. We have a good committee that does it.
“We have good evaluators. I feel very confident with what we got are the right 12.”
Team members include Cambria Heights’ Bills, Central Cambria’s Abigail Claar and Kylie Ferguson, Conemaugh Valley’s Hines, Forest Hills’ Jerzy Bopp and Bryn Roberts, Portage’s Reese Pinizzotto and Camdyn Westover, Richland’s Irelyn Scott, Westmont Hilltop’s Kylie Sweeney and Windber’s Cameron Mash and Olivia O’Roark. Ron Mash and Rick Westover are the assistant coaches.
The region has had teams perform well in recent memory. Indiana Little League advanced to the 2024 and 2025 Junior League Softball World Series semifinals.
This squad’s run was made possible with Ranger Youth League, V.E. Arbutus and West Suburban combining to form one league.
“I think the biggest hurdle was to get the whole area to come together and form a league to where this could happen,” Rick Roberts said. “I credit West Suburban, Forest Hills and V.E. for making this change, putting the kids first and allowing these three leagues to combine. With that, you have the force of our whole county and upper Somerset County to really do some damage. Without that, it would be tough because one league isn’t going to be able to go and do what we do.”
‘Very versatile’
Rick Roberts assessed his dynamic team one by one.
Bills pitched every inning during the 2025 championship season at the 12U level, and also plays infield.
“She’s very versatile,” Rick Roberts said.
“She’s obviously a good shortstop and a good pitcher. She’s very mature. With the social media following, there’s a lot of people that come up to her. The biggest thing with me is she treats everybody like they’re her family. She’s very professional. She takes time to talk to all the kids. That’s the most impressive thing for me is her maturity and how good of a kid she is.”
Claar plays multiple positions well.
“She’s tough,” Rick Roberts said. “She can play third base. She can play outfield. She’s very versatile. She’s a solid hitter.”
Ferguson dissects opposing hitters with precision in the circle.
“She’s like the Greg Maddux of the staff,” Rick Roberts said. “She also plays first base when Liv pitches. She’s a grinder. She’s a good at-bat. She doesn’t strike out.”
Hines provides thump in the middle of the order.
“She’s a great catcher,” Rick Roberts said.
“She’s a very good leader. She probably has the most pop as far as raw power in our lineup. She hits fourth and she hits some balls really far. She has some big home runs for us, especially the grand slam against Delaware.”
Bopp’s athleticism stands out in center field.
“She’s a pure athlete,” Rick Roberts said.
“She also can play short. Her skill set in center field, there’s not many balls that get down. She has a plus arm. She can run.
“She’s a competitor at the plate.”
Bryn Roberts hits second is solid in the field wherever she plays.
“She’s versatile,” Rick Roberts said. “She can play every position besides pitch. She grew up playing baseball, so she’s pretty tough. She played travel baseball until she was 12. She’s probably a little bit more mature in the dugout than most girls because she’s been in a college dugout since she was 4 or 5. She’s a very good leader.
“She’s finally starting to mature. She has a great bat. She hasn’t struck out at all yet.
“She just finds a way to get on.”
Scott is a precision pitcher and serves as a second leadoff batter.
“She’s a great left fielder,” Rick Roberts said. “She also plays second if we need her.
“She’s our extra leadoff hitter. She turns over the lineup with singles and walks. She’s there for a reason.”
Pinizzotto is a left-handed batter and pitcher with a lethal off-speed weapon.
“She’s our power lefty,” Rick Roberts said. “She’s got a devastating changeup.
“She probably has a Randy Johnson fastball and a Jamie Moyer changeup. She can hit for power. She’s very athletic. She’s our only lefty, which is huge because she’s a good change from our righties.”
Camdyn Westover brings value in the circle and in the box.
“She probably has the best pure swing from the left side,” Rick Roberts said. “She can hit for power. She can hit gap to gap. She’s also one of our power right-handed arms.
“She’s big and strong. She’s just a great kid with a very good swing, one of our big bats we rely on to get a lot of RBIs.”
Sweeney has progressed due to her constantly working on her craft.
“She’s a very big hitter,” Rick Roberts said. “She can play any position in the outfield. She can catch, play third or first. She’s probably one of the most enjoyable kids on the team because she’s just a great teammate. She’s always upbeat and having fun.
“She’s come a long way. She’s a very hard worker.”
Mash provides a spark at the top of the lineup.
“She’s our leadoff hitter,” Rick Roberts said.
“She finds a way to get on. She plays a really good second. She’s also a good center fielder. She can run. She can hit. She is a very high contact player. She can hit to all fields.”
O’Roark supplies power as a pitcher and as a feared batter.
“She’s probably the ace of our staff,” Rick Roberts said. “She’s also our three hitter.
“She’s a super-kid. She was really quiet up until this year. She sort of came out of her shell. She’s an unreal pitcher with four or five solid pitches. She can hit for power.
“She hits to all fields. She’s the most feared player on our team.”
Jake Oswalt is a copy editor for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @TheWizOfOz11.
Continue reading...
