Windermere softball team advances to state

OVIEDO — In the midst of a sweltering hot summer day, the Windermere Little League Softball All-Stars team took it to Apopka for an 11-0 victory in the Section 5 Tournament.

The mercy-rule victory, which ended the game in the fourth inning, was Windermere’s second of the day, with both games played at tournament host Oviedo Little League. The pair of wins in the doubleheader ensured the girls from Windermere would be Section 5 Champions, securing the team’s spot in the 2015 State of Florida Championship Tournament this weekend in Rockledge.

“They played incredibly — they played really, really well,” head coach Neal Harris said. “I was proud of them. It’s what I expected from them, and they came through.”

Several team members have been playing together for a few years now, and that history and familiarity has helped the girls bond and play cohesively.

“The girls have been playing for a while together in Little League; probably since they were 6 or 7 years old,” assistant coach Ken Janata said. “Now, they are 11 and 12, and it’s all coming together.”

And although the girls’ natural talent certainly played a role, the many hours of practice the team and its coaches have put in the past weeks have helped prepare this group to advance to state.

“A lot of teamwork and chemistry — it’s all been there,” assistant coach Greg Scalzo said. “This is what we expected, and we expected to go to states.”

Windermere defeated St. Cloud earlier in the day, 15-0, to outscore its opponents 26-0 on the day. While all of the bats for the girls were on point, the team also got stellar play on the mound and on the field. Holly Heath pitched a perfect game against St. Cloud and did not give up any hits against Apopka.

The state tournament will take place starting Friday at Rockledge Little League. Windermere will play against the champions from Section 4 and Section 6 in Pool B. For more information on the state tournament, visit floridallb.com/tournament_state.php.

Should the team from Windermere emerge victorious this weekend, it will advance to the regional tournament, which is scheduled for July 29 through Aug. 5 in Warner Robins, Georgia. The Little League Softball World Series will be held Aug. 10 to 19 in Portland, Oregon.

Contact Emilee Jackson at [email protected].