The Washington 8U All-Stars suffered a heartbreaking loss to Jamesville in the championship game of the ENC Babe Ruth District 6 tournament but that is not expected to slow this team down when the state tournament officially begins on Tuesday.
The 8U All-Stars, coached by Scott Campbell, have a strong and balanced lineup and if they can be as consistent on defense as they are in the batter’s box they have the potential to go far in the 10-team tournament.
“Offensively the 8U team can open with the short game and then hit the ball to the green better than any group we have ever had in that age group,” said Washington Girls Fastpitch Softball League president Greg Dority. “The key will be defense — if they can execute the basic plays in the field, then we can go deep into the tournament.”
The All-Stars benefit from having a versatile lineup that features extraordinary table setters at the top of it and plenty of high-contact hitters behind them.
“We’re fortunate to leadoff with Olivia Paszt who is a tremendous short game player from the left hand side and she’s followed by probably the best player Washington has ever had in 8U in Laci Campbell – and that’s saying a lot. This is her third year involved and she can hit the ball almost to the fence or she can drop it short,” Dority said. “With the girls behind them in the lineup we have a lot of punch.”
Dority said that the team’s ability to pressure the defense will be key.
“They have consistent hitting up and down the lineup but and they can open with what we refer to as the modern game: the left-handed short attack,” Dority said. “In 8U that can be very effective if teams aren’t prepared to stop it.”