by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
A seven-game winning streak came to an end for the Lancaster Little League Junior Softball All Stars on Tuesday, July 9, when the team finished as the runner-up in the Virginia Junior Softball All-Stars State Tournament in Portsmouth.
Tazwell beat Lancaster, 8-4, in the championship to end a 3-1 run for Lancaster in the state tournament.
“Every girl on that team gave it their all,” said assistant coach Sarah Pittman. “Even in the championship game when we were down, they were still cheering and digging deep to try and win it. I’m so proud of this team.”
Lancaster advanced to the state tournament after repeating as the District 15 champion. Lancaster went 3-0 in the five-team, double elimination tournament, shutting out Mathews, 13-0, in the championship June 24. Enroute to the final, Lancaster beat Caroline, 16-1, and Mathews, 10-6, to go unbeaten in the tournament at King William Little League complex.
The team included Angelina Smith, Shelby Haynie, Suzi Geier, Namira Coleman, Addie George, Lily Russell, Kynleigh Wilson, Kelsey Bishoff, Kelsie Cox, Izzy Gill, Elizabeth Keyser and Miette Wolfe.
Lancaster won its first state tournament game, 19-12, over Woodstock, batting through the lineup to score 12 runs in the first ….
