The 12U Hamilton Hurricanes celebrate after earning a spot in the Babe Ruth Softball World Series. Top row, left to right: Coach Bob Bocock, coach Fran Mozgai, coach Tim Philburn, manager Steve LaFisca, coach Andy Kelly, and coach Pat Smith. Middle row, left to right: Jayden Glazewski, Emily Mozgai, Gianna Casale, Kathie Philburn, Johnna Filipponi, and Kelsey Smith. Front row, left to right: Skyler LaFisca, Lizzie Kelly, Becca Bocock, Abby Simonelli, Julie Hannawacker, and Cierra Acevedo.
By Ken Weingartner
The Hamilton Hurricanes are looking to take Florida by storm.
Sponsored by the Hamilton Girls Softball Association, the Hurricanes’ 8U and 12U All-Star squads have already qualified for this year’s Babe Ruth Softball World Series, and if all goes well, they could also be joined by the 10-under team. The World Series for all three divisions runs July 29 through Aug. 5 in Alachua County, Florida.
Steve LaFisca, the manager of the 12U squad, said it is the first time Babe Ruth is hosting a World Series for the 8U and 10U players.
“That would be a dream, to have all three teams there,” said LaFisca, joking that no one would be left in Hamilton if it occurred. “They’re all coming with us. It’s very exciting. I’m very proud of the girls.”
The 8U and 12U teams won World Series qualifiers to stamp their tickets to Florida. The 10U squad entered July needing to win state and regional tourneys to get a shot at also making the trip.
Last year, the Hurricanes’ 12U team finished fourth in the World Series, just two wins shy of the final. The program produced a World Series champion in 2008.
The 12U and 8U teams are the sixth and seventh HGSA all-star squads, respectively, to qualify for the World Series.
Representing the Hurricanes on the 8U team are Gracyn Antosiewicz, Naomi Blackburn, Kalia Castiglione, Amber Dewitt, Braylie LaFisca, Holly Muni, Bianca Pesce, Marcella Samoya, Katie Simonka, Bianca Walsh and Cara Weaver. The squad is managed by George Simonka.
On the 12U team are Cierra Acevedo, Becca Bocock, Gianna Casale, Johnna Filipponi, Jayden Galzewski, Julia Hannawacker, Lizzie Kelly, Skylar LaFisca, Emily Mozgai, Katie Philburn, Abby Simonelli and Kelsey Smith.
“To win it all, that’s the goal,” LaFisca said. “Getting the chance to play for the World Series, it’s big expectations for us.”
There is no doubt the 12U team is talented and tournament tested. Last year, seven of the players on the 12U squad were members of the Hurricanes’ 10U team that captured the Middle Atlantic Region championship and posted a stellar 76-8-1 record. But with no World Series opportunity available, that’s where the road ended.
Now, this group will get the chance to go one step further.
“I think it’s really cool to have that kind of opportunity,” said Kelsey Smith, who is a catcher. “Even if we don’t win, it’s good to go down there and play and learn to be like those teams and see that competition. Winning the regionals [last year] was really tough. I think that helps us now. It’s good to be in that kind of environment.”
When LaFisca made last year’s schedule, he had no idea the 10U squad would romp through tournament after tournament.
“We played 85 games, which is, like, unheard of,” LaFisca said. “But when I created the schedule and signed up for all the tournaments, you don’t expect to just keep winning. You have your three games on Saturday, which is your seeding day, but then we just kept winning. Before you know it, you’re playing six or seven games every weekend.
“They’re playing a lot of softball, but they love it. They love it.”
This season’s 12U team is comprised of primarily girls who entered the year as 11-year-olds, so they have often faced older competition. Nonetheless, the squad has gone through the tournament season winning at a better-than-.700 clip.
“We did feel good entering this year, but we knew we were going to be a young team,” LaFisca said. “You’re playing girls that are 13 years old now; all my girls just left the 10U team so most of them are 11. It’s difficult. It’s not like last year.
“It’s such a jump, [age] 11 to 13. Last year, we had all the experience; we were the older team, so we dominated. This is an adjustment for the girls. They’re facing bigger, stronger girls. But they’re doing very well.”
There are other changes, as well, such as the pitcher’s mound being moved back an additional five feet and the ball being 11 inches rather than 10.
“I thought our pitchers would struggle with it at the beginning, but all of them adjusted really well,” LaFisca said. “I was impressed by all of them. The key is pitching. If you have good pitching it carries you a long way.”
Filipponi, Skylar LaFisca and Bocock have shared the pitching duties this season for the 12U team.
“And all three girls are returning, which will make us really strong going into next year,” Steve LaFisca said.
Skylar LaFisca, who has been playing softball since she was 5, is looking forward to finishing off this year with the chance to win a World Series championship.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “It was disappointing not to have this chance last year, so we want to see what we can do this year. I feel like we can be the next one [from HGSA to win the championship]. If we practice hard and all stick together, we can make it.
Skylar LaFisca said she likes the team aspect of softball best.
“Ee all get to participate and help each other out,” she said. “I also enjoy pitching because you kind of control the game. Overall, I think we’re best at picking each other up after everything, high-fiving each other, and playing together as a team. I think [going to the World Series] will be fun. I think we’ll have a good time. Hopefully we can win it.”
Offensively, Acevedo, Kelly, Casale and Filipponi have all been hitting better than .500.
“I like the game itself and how much fun it is to play,” said Casale, who plays the outfield and has been playing softball for six years. “This is a big honor for us, to go to the World Series. We’d like to go down there to win. I think we have a pretty good team. We have a lot of ability and we’re really close as a group.”
It’s that closeness that Smith most enjoys, regardless of the outcome of the games.
“I just love meeting all the girls and hanging out with them,” she said. “They’re mostly my best friends. They’re really good friends and stick with you.”
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