By Zach Zook
NORMAL – Two the 116 teams competing at the National Fastpitch Championship in the Twin Cities this week won’t need to stay at a hotel.
The USA Softball 16U National Fastpitch Championship hosted each year at Champion Fields in Normal will feature its usual pool of vast talent with teams located all over the nation. This year, the local teams include the BNGSA Angels 2000 squad along with their 2001 organizational counterparts.
“Our approach is to stay loose and have fun, compete, not necessarily win, brush off our mistakes and go on to the next pitch,” said Angels ’00 head coach Mike Wheeler. “That’s what I’ve been preaching all week.”
His players seem to have heeded his advice.
“The number one thing is just to have fun because this is the last tournament of the year for us,” second baseman Morgan Muntz said. “You just want to have fun and enjoy it because you might not get an opportunity like this again. Just go out and play your best.”
“I think it’s awesome that everyone comes to us and it’s going to be fun meeting new people and playing teams from across the nation,” added U-High’s Lexus Tennison, the ’00 Angels primary third baseman.
Although the odds of winning a 116-team tournament are mathematically slim and it seems like the ’00 Angels are keeping things in perspective, the girls are still keen on competing and giving every opponent their best.
“Goals are probably winning the pool,” said pitcher/outfielder Makenna Tkach of Ottawa when asked about the best way to navigate these large tournaments. “If you win your pool that’s a good start and then just staying in the winners bracket and taking the easy route.”
Perhaps easier said than done, but the ’00 Angels are focused. Even so, the 2000 team will be dealt all they can handle from teams all over America. However, they won’t be alone in their challenge. The ’01 Angels girls are in the 116-team field as well.
“I just want to see us come out and really compete,” said their head coach Jim Fairfield. “We’re a younger team so even though we’re playing at the 16U level, the USA organization does it every two years so my entire team is 15U.”
The youthful ’01 Angels view this tournament as an opportunity to really grow as both a team and as individuals. Tri-Valley’s Morgan Boward, a middle infielder for the team said she’s trying to stay focused on her approach at the plate and fundamentals.
“I just want to make sure I make solid contact with the ball and make as few mistakes as possible.”
The team will surely see some things from the 16-year-olds this weekend it hasn’t previously. The extra year of development and growth can be an advantage in comparison to a 15U squad. The ’01 Angels aren’t worried about how they’ll do in terms of wins and losses however. The focus, much like the 2000 team, is more on soaking up the experience that the national tournament presents.
“It’s kind of cool that it’s right here and we don’t have to travel that far,” Bailey Turner said. “I just want to see how we compare to all of these teams.” The Normal West pitcher and middle infielder is looking forward to the challenge that the national tournament will present.
The tournament is taking place through Sunday at Champion Fields, Maxwell and Shepard parks in Normal, Illinois State’s Marian Kneer Stadium and Waller Park in Hudson.
Zach Zook can be reached at [email protected].
