Local Girls Softball All-Stars Aiming for West National Championships

For a second straight year the Sierra Madre Girls Softball All-Star team qualified for the ASA West National Championship tournament.

The squad advanced to the 14-under “B” Fastpitch West National Championship in Spokane, Wash., from Aug. 1-7 after an impressive second place finish in the Southern California State Championships in Lancaster held July 8-10.

Sierra Madre went 6-2 over the weekend, falling to tournament champion East Valley of San Diego in the title game. Sierra Madre’s two losses came against East Valley, and the team had to play in four-straight elimination games to advance to the tournament’s title game after falling to East Valley early in the weekend.

In order to make the trek to Spokane, team manager Linda Sparks said they need to raise $20,000 to offset travel expenses, tournament fees, hotel costs and food during the week-long tournament.

On Saturday the Sierra Madre girls softball squad is holding a car and bike wash behind Taylors’ Ol’ Fashioned Meat Market at 14 East Sierra Madre Boulevard from 8 a.m.-noon. There will also be a bake sale outside the CHASE Bank at 25 West Sierra Madre Boulevard on Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

At both events people are encouraged to purchase $2 raffle tickets (or three for $5). The raffle’s grand prize is $750 of gift cards to area retailers and restaurants.

Local businesses also can sign up to sponsor the team at levels ranging from Grand Slam Sponsor ($5,000) to Softball Supporter ($100). Tax-deductible checks of support can be made out to: SMGSA and sent to SMGSA, Western National Championships, P.O. Box 1055, Sierra Madre, CA 91025. The non-profit’s tax-exempt number is 95-3297156.  

Sierra Madre advanced to the state tournament following a second place showing at the ASA District Championships in Fullerton Hills.

“It has been an absolute delight managing this group of girls, who are the most fun, and flexible group of athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching,” said Sierra Madre resident and team co-manager Brian Hanel in a press release. “They are resilient and have demonstrated time and time again their fortitude and commitment to the team. We look forward to representing our league, the City of Sierra Madre, as well as the entire San Gabriel Valley at this National event.”

Kurt Knop of Pasadena is the other co-manager.

While the 15-girl squad represents Sierra Madre, the team is made up of players from all over the San Gabriel Valley: Becca Hanel (Sierra Madre), Alexi Zate (Sierra Madre), Katie Sparks (Sierra Madre), Breana Howard (Pasadena), Katherine Knop (Pasadena), Kiki Shuster (Arcadia), Marisa and Maxine Fuentes (El Monte), Lauren Romo (San Gabriel), Kaylee Johnson (Monrovia), Kelly Crowley (San Marino), Austen Hustler (Duarte), Lauren Gomez (San Gabriel), Hailey Vasquez (Temple City) and Miranda Bielski (Altadena).

Eleven of the 15 girls on this year's team were a part of last year’s 12-under squad that took seventh out of 38 teams in the Girls 12-Under “B” Fastpitch West National Championship in Las Cruces, N.M.