The opportunities were there for the Gastineau Channel Little League softball team in the first game of its Little League Softball West Regional Tournament, but the hits didn’t come.
The GCLL team, fresh off winning the Alaska State Tournament, was facing Northern California in the first game of pool play at the regional Friday. Twice, GCLL loaded the bases, and twice the girls left them loaded. The game resulted in a 10-6 loss, but head coach Nicole Adair said the team isn’t getting down.
“They’re upbeat,” Adair said. “I think we’re seeing a little bit of drain from being on the road. The two things that definitely stand out to me are limiting our walks and not leaving people on base.”
A two-run double from Aspen Kasper was the biggest highlight of the first game, with seven hitters picking up a hit for GCLL. Northern California collected 10 hits, also benefitting from six walks.
In the second game of pool play, the team lost to Utah, 11-0. Utah starting pitcher Payton Lister held GCLL to just four hits in four innings. In total, GCLL’s team has walked 10 batters and has left 12 runners on base.
The pool games determine seeding for bracket play, which begins Tuesday. Adair and her team won’t know until late Monday night who they’re set to face for the first game of the single-elimination tournament Tuesday.
After a dramatic run to the state championship, Adair feels confident in her team. The players haven’t been intimidated on the big stage, and Adair said the team just needs to be a little cleaner.
“These are teams we hang with,” Adair said. “It just requires a very crisp, very tight defense and explosive offense.”
The Gastineau Channel Little League softball team waits to be introduced pregame at an Inland Empire 66ers game. The GCLL team is in San Bernardino, California, to play in the Little League Softball West Regional Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Adair)
