Members of the 12U Smash Softball squad - featuring players from Riverbank and Oakdale - are back from a weeklong trip to the ASA National Championships in Montgomery, Alabama. The girls battled their way to a top five finish in the nation, exceeding even their own expectations.
There were 89 teams from all over the country. Coaches said they went in hoping for a top 20 finish, and came out instead with the fifth place honors.
The girls fought it out with some of the best teams in the nation, beating teams from Southern California, Illinois, Alabama, Texas and Ohio before getting knocked out by the Voodoo from Louisiana, a team they had beaten earlier in the competition.
Placing fifth in the nation, while competing against teams with much larger populations is a feat the team, coaches and supporters are all very proud of, as the girls had a hugely successful run.
They ended the season taking championships at five straight tournaments and culminated their campaign with the fifth place finish at Nationals.
This 12 and under team is based in Ceres and has players from Ceres, Oakdale, Riverbank and Manteca. Players are: Gaby Bonales, Giovy Webb, Haley Fuller, Jasmine Temple, Jessica Arreola, Kaytlin Donaldson, Mackenzie Veuve, Mahlena O'Neal, Nicole Bates, Sabrina Baisdon and Taylor Ward.
There were 89 teams from all over the country. Coaches said they went in hoping for a top 20 finish, and came out instead with the fifth place honors.
The girls fought it out with some of the best teams in the nation, beating teams from Southern California, Illinois, Alabama, Texas and Ohio before getting knocked out by the Voodoo from Louisiana, a team they had beaten earlier in the competition.
Placing fifth in the nation, while competing against teams with much larger populations is a feat the team, coaches and supporters are all very proud of, as the girls had a hugely successful run.
They ended the season taking championships at five straight tournaments and culminated their campaign with the fifth place finish at Nationals.
This 12 and under team is based in Ceres and has players from Ceres, Oakdale, Riverbank and Manteca. Players are: Gaby Bonales, Giovy Webb, Haley Fuller, Jasmine Temple, Jessica Arreola, Kaytlin Donaldson, Mackenzie Veuve, Mahlena O'Neal, Nicole Bates, Sabrina Baisdon and Taylor Ward.
