For the first time in Orange Youth Baseball Softball history, a team has come home with the State Championship.
The Orange 8U Softball Team, lead by Head Coach Ryan Crowell, was the last team standing after a grueling two days in Angleton.
The girls entered the Championship series with Pearland undefeated and were hoping that a two hour layoff to cool off and regroup would be an advantage as Pearland had played five back to back games Sunday to reach the finals.
But the Orange team came out flat while the Pearland Power would jump out to an 8-0 lead after four and take the game 13-6 forcing a second game with both teams having one loss in the double elimination tournament.
“We wanted them to win the first game, ” Crowell said after the game. “We’re looking for a dramatic ending,” he said with a smile. Well he got it.
Pearland had gotten revenge after losing to Orange in the first game of the tournament 18-16 to put them in the losers bracket. But Orange would rise to the challenge in the second game for the title.
In the first inning of the second game both teams lit up the scoreboard as Orange took a 6-5 lead. Then the Orange defense played great keeping Pearland off the scoreboard for two straight innings. In youth softball, keeping the opponent off the scoreboard is as good as scoring the max of six runs per inning.
The Orange offense would continue pecking away with two or three runs per inning. Pearland would add two in the fourth but it was not enough as Orange picked up the 15-7 win and the big trophy.
“I’ve done this a few times and I thought this team had something going that was a little different,” Crowell said. “We went to a tournament last week just to play some of the better competition and we ended up winning the thing. If we’re hitting the ball like we’re capable of, there’s not many teams in the state that could touch us.”
On being the first OYBS team to win it all…”The feeling is fantastic. A lot of hard work went into this from the kids to the coaches and the parents. I’m super proud of this team,” Crowell said.
Road to the Championship
Orange 18 Pearland 16
Orange 18 MissFits 0
Orange 23 Rose-Rich 2
Orange 21 Bay City 5
Orange 22 Friendswood 14
Orange 19 Siena Storm 5
Pearland 13 Orange 6
Orange 15 Pearland 7
Orange 8U Navy All Stars
1-Aubree Edwards
2-Arlee Reeves
3-Anslee Strandberg
4-Kylee Roy
5-Fynnlee Trahan
7-Harper Crowell
9-Aspen Torbert
11-Shyleigh Charlot
12-Karson Stanley
14-Navariah Garrett
16-Caydence Caples
Coaches: Ryan Crowell, Cody Caples, Corey Stanley, Cade Reeves, Rusty Trahan, Adam Strandberg and Derek Torbert.
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