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Louisiana advanced to the WS in Lower Sussex, Del., by winning the Seniors. Both champions went undefeated in Isleta Pueblo, N.M. and in Vidalia, Louisiana, respectively
By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today
Either the Texas West team from the Greater Helotes Softball League was dominant over a weak field or it is just a team good enough to win the International World Series in Kirkland, Wash.?
The Junior Little League Softball has been playing its World Series in Kirkland for quite some time, and never has the Southwest Region champion come out on top. With the Region relocated to Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico, it was Texas West having no problem disposing of those in the 6-team field.
It cruised to a 4-0 record and topped it off by rolling over Texas East, 14-1, in the title game played Monday. Previously, it walloped the Texas East out of Sinton LL, 11-1. The other contests were also routs, all of the mercy-rule that shortened each game via the 10-run rule.
It opened by shutting down the host team from the Westgate LL, 15-0, pounced on Texas East, and then mercy-ruled the Vidalia LL from Louisiana, 16-3.
That’s 57 runs scored and only five allowed. It combined strong pitching with a balanced lineup that hit long and hit short, with every player in the
lineup getting at least one hit in each contest. Two of the triumphs were shutouts.
But that was in the Regional. Now Texas West lines up in the World Series with hopes of finally winning the championship. The best the Southwest winner has done through the years is Texas East finishing third last year after winning the Region in Los Alamos.
Of the others in the field, Texas East went 3-2 at the Indian Spring Park, Louisiana was all even at 2-2, host Westgate was 1-2, Colorado of the Westminster LL and the New Mexico champion from Clovis American were each 0-1.
In the Senior Little League Softball Regional played in Vidalia, Louisiana, the host team went unbeaten in four starts to earn a trip to the International World Series in Lower Sussex, Del.
Vidalia began with a 13-0 mercy-rule victory over the New Mexico state champions from Los Alamos County. Then it dealt Aurora LL from Colorado a whooping 20-0 setback, followed by turning back Texas West, 7-1, and then defeated Texas East, 3-2, in the championship game on Monday.
Texas East finished at 3-1, New Mexico, and Texas West and Arkansas at 1-2, and Colorado winless in three outings.
