Softball Superstars

CONGRATULATIONS igh e l i Ha ear” “B tiz Or

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2B - SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015 · SEGUIN GAZETTE

Tickets to Portland Seguin All-Stars face challenges en route to World Series berth

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Northwest Sports Photography

Little League Seguin Major All-Stars Softball Pitching Coach Keit Lee high fives Lauren Ramon (7) in Portland, Oregon during the team’s trip to the Little League World Series.

Tucker Stephenson tucker.stephenson@seguingazette.com

efore the Seguin Major Softball All-Stars ever took the field for their first game this summer, Bubba Neumann — the father of first baseman and pitcher McKenzie Neumann — strolled by a crowd of people at the Seguin Little League Complex and casually gave them a piece of advice.

His message? Go ahead and get your plane tickets to Portland, because his daughter’s team was going to the Little League Softball World Series this year.

Whether or not Neumann is a distant relative of Nostradamus is unclear. What is clear, however, is that he was exactly right — the Seguin Majors became the first team from their age division in Seguin Little League history to accomplish the feat.

And once the team got to Portland, it was made evident that the girls and their coaches weren’t there to sightsee — they came to win.

Seguin advanced all the way to the semifinals and finished with a 3-3 record against the top competition that Little League has to offer from around the globe.

The girls didn’t just prove they’re a talented group of softball players, though. The team also took some time to help out with the Challenger Division game on their off day, helping some young athletes with physical and mental limitations accomplish some of their own dreams on the diamond.

Seguin’s journey to the top wasn’t an easy one, as the team fought through soaring temperatures and more than a few nerve-wracking one-run ballgames to punch its ticket to the LLSWS. It all began at the West Zone level, where Seguin crushed New Braunfels Red, outscoring the opposition 26-1 in two games.

Seguin’s journey to the top wasn’t an easy one, as the team fought through soaring temperatures and more than a few nervewracking onerun ballgames to punch its ticket to the LLSWS.

Things were a bit dicier against Hallettsville, but thanks to a rally in the second game, Seguin wrapped up the District 31 title in undefeated fashion. Haileigh Ortiz proved to be the hero, providing a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to lift Seguin to a thrilling 12-11 victory in front of its home fans.

Amazingly, that game against Hallettsville proved to be Seguin’s only extra-inning contest of the summer.

Seguin then advanced to sectionals, where the wins kept coming. After a bit of an escape in another comefrom-behind win in its opener, the Seguin Major Softball All-Stars cruised in their next two games to sew up a spot at the state tournament back at their home ballpark.

Seguin, which would finish its international tournament season with a 6-1 record in one-run ballgames, made their fans sweat it out multiple times at state, but

Tanya R. Grun, M.D., P.A. Family Practice 921 Lakeview Blvd.

New Braunfels, Tx 78130 830 620-7744 Tanya R. Grun, M.D. Jeanette Naschke, PA-C

Sierra Tesch, PA-C Kacy Flanagan, PA-C

CONGRATULATIONS

JAILEY and the

ALL-STAR TEAM

Congrats to the girls!

480 S. Seguin New Braunfels, TX 78130 830-214-6002 office

SEGUIN GAZETTE · SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015 - 3B Northwest Sports Photography

LEFT — Seguin shortstop Maddie Bone readies herself for a catch Thursday against Uganda at Alpenrose Stadium in Portland, Oregon.

BELOW — Seguin’s Samara Sanchez (2) talks strategy with a Haileigh “Bear” Ortiz in Portland, Oregon during the team’s trip to the Little League World Series.

THE PATH TO PORTLAND

WEST ZONE Seguin 6, Huffman 5 Seguin 10, New Braunfels Red 1 Seguin 16, New Braunfels Red 0 REGIONALS Seguin 2, Helotes 1 DISTRICT 31 Seguin 13, Louisiana 0 Seguin 8, Hallettsville 3 Seguin 9, New Mexico 3 Seguin 12, Hallettsville 11 Seguin 13, Colorado 0 Seguin 7, Louisiana 3 SECTIONALS Seguin 6, Helotes 4 Seguin 5, Rockport-Fulton 4 Seguin 14, Needville 3 WORLD SERIES Seguin 7, Rockport-Fulton 0 Seguin 9, Uganda 1 Seguin 8, Oregon 1 STATE Rhode Island 4, Seguin 1 Seguin 4, Huffman 2 Seguin 3, Puerto Rico 2 Seguin 2, Bryan National 1 North Carolina 8, Seguin 0 Huffman 4, Seguin 3 Iowa 9, Seguin 2

plate. Julie Dreibrodt notched the game-winning hit in the contest to extend her team’s overall winning streak to nine.

Huffman snapped that mark with a 4-3 victory in the championship round, but Seguin rebounded that same day to win 6-5 and sew up the state title.

McKenzie Neumann’s two-run home run to left field was the difference, clinching a spot at regionals in Waco.

Seguin announced its arrival there with authority and ultisomehow the girls looked as cool Opening with a hard-fought thanks to a brilliant throw home mately went undefeated at the and calm as can be on each occa- 4-2 win over Huffman, Seguin from shortstop Maddie Bone and tournament. Seguin received sion. then edged Bryan National 2-1 a great tag by Ortiz at home incredible pitching from start-

er Marissa Bradley and reliever Samara Sanchez at regionals, as the one-two punch combined to subdue every opponent the team faced.

But with a berth in the LLSWS on the line during the championship game in a Texas showdown against a very talented Helotes squad, Seguin again had to show its ability to come through in the clutch.

Trailing 4-3 and just two outs away from seeing its World Series hopes dashed, Neumann singled to right and Kaylyn PORTLAND - 9B

CMC Steel Texas Congratulates theWorld Series Southwest Team

Seguin Major Softball Little League!

A Special Congratulations go out to our CMC families children

McKenzie Neumann & Jailey Cardenas

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4B - SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015 · SEGUIN GAZETTE

#SeguinVsWorld During the Seguin Majors All-Stars Softball team’s exciting run to the Little League World Series tournament, we wanted to offer our readers an inside glimpse of the team’s time in Portland — and so the #SeguinVsWorld was born. The Gazette’s sports guru Tucker Stephenson and senior reporter Felicia Frazar reached out to the parents and coaches, asking them to use the hashtag when uploading a photo to social media. They responded, and the hashtag became so popular we eventually let the cat out of the bag to encourage readers to voice their support on social media. This way the girls could see how their grace, poise and determination rallied the community. Here are a few of the results of #SeguinVsWorld.

Derek Kuhn Managing Editor, Seguin Gazette

Stacey Neumann - Courtesy Photo

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SEGUIN GAZETTE · SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015 - 5B

Social media feed

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Congratulations!

Way to Go Girls!!

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We are proud of our Seguin Little League World Series Softball Team!

Welcome home!

Way to represent Seguin and bring it the most successful Little League season in history. The 2015 Seguin Major Softball All-Stars (and coaches) will go down as one of the best teams this town has ever seen — in any sport and at any age level.

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6B - SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015 路 SEGUIN GAZETTE

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CONGRATULATES the SEGUIN MAJOR SOFTBALL ALL-STARS on a JOB WELL DONE!

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SEGUIN GAZETTE · SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015 - 7B

GOOD Sports Cathy Mack - Courtesy Photo

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4 Bases, 3 Outs, 2 Teams, 1 Winner Julie Dreibrodt you are AMAZING!!!

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P r ou d Y ou! f O

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8B - SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015 · SEGUIN GAZETTE

The team was made even more special by the way that a different player would step up in seemingly every game to become the hero.

Northwest Sports Photography

TOP — Seguin’s Haileigh “Bear” Ortiz swings for the fences in Portland, Oregon during the team’s trip to the Little League World Series. ABOVE — Madeline Bone makes a play. LEFT — Marissa Bradley runs toward home plate.

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CONGRATUL ATES the Seguin Major Softball Little League on a job well done!

You’ve made us proud!

You did us proud!

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SEGUIN GAZETTE · SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015 - 9B Northwest Sports Photography

LEFT — Seguin’s Devin Gonzales moves to catch a pop fly at Alpenrose Stadium in Portland, Oregon. BELOW — McKenzie Neumann keeps her eyes on the ball in Portland, Oregon during the team’s trip to the Little League World Series.

PORTLAND - 3B Cordero came up with Seguin’s biggest hit to date — a triple to left-center field that plated Neumann. Cordero also came in to score following an error on the play, giving her club a 5-4 lead. Lauren Ramon, who finished the summer as one of Seguin’s hottest hitters, added an insurance run before Sanchez slammed the door on Helotes to begin the celebration.

With a short turnaround, Seguin continued to dominate its competition during pool play at the LLSWS, defeating Uganda and Oregon by a combined score of 15-2 in its first two games.

An off day may have interrupted Seguin’s rhythm, though, as an offensive slump plagued the team through its final four games. Seguin still managed to defeat Puerto Rico 3-2, though, and advanced to the championship round.

Seguin finished in the final four on the biggest stage in the world, bringing

All of the players and coaches deserve one final congratulations for giving Seguin its most exciting summer in decades. It was a heck of a ride, ladies and gentlemen. And it’s one that no one will ever forget. their town a sense of pride every step of the way.

The team was made even more special by the way that a different player would step up in seemingly every game to become the hero. If it wasn’t Bradley or Sanchez controlling things from the pitcher’s circle, it was a key hit from a host of players or a defensive gem from outfielders Taylor Springs, Jailey Cardenas, Mia Cevallos or Devin Gonzales.

The coaches pushed all the right

buttons along the way as well. Seguin often picked the perfect time to steal a base or lay down a bunt, and the credit for that goes to Val Cevallos, Robert Bone and Kiet Le for their dedication, instruction and scouting.

All of the players and coaches deserve one final congratulations for giving Seguin its most exciting summer in decades. It was a heck of a ride, ladies and gentlemen.

And it’s one that no one will ever forget.

CONGRATULATIONS

Seguin Girls Major Softball Team on your win to the WORLD SERIES!

Way to go, girls!

We were cheering you on – every step of the way.

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Congratulations, Girls!

We are so proud of you!