Windermere Little League Minors softball team wins state championship

The young ladies from Among the Lakes made quite an impression in Land O’ Lakes.

The Windermere Little League Minors (ages 8-10) All-Stars softball team went undefeated in the Florida State Championships last weekend, sweeping through pool play and the state championship game to achieve a combined record of 4-0.

In three games of pool play, Windermere outscored its opponents 30-6. In the state championship game, the local girls bested Tampa’s Bayshore Little League 8-3.

Now, the girls will travel to Clarksville, Tennessee, where they will face state champions from other Southeastern states such as Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina in the Tournament of State Champions.

The girls will hit the road Thursday morning — but not before Mayor Gary Bruhn sends them off in style.

As the team looks to bring home one last championship, coach Shawn King says the ability of the entire roster to contribute has been a huge factor.

“The biggest thing for this team was the teamwork and how it played through,” King said. “Some teams just bring 10 or 11 (players) — we actually brought 14 girls, and they all got to participate and they all contributed. Every single girl — up-and-down the lineup — they all contributed.”

Additionally, the team’s main pitcher — Lexi King — has yet to allow an earned run in All-Stars.

Whatever the result this weekend in Tennessee, the Tournament of State Champions is the end of the road for this particular age group in Little League. When the girls reach ages 11 or 12, though, they can compete to go all the way to the Little League Softball World Series — and so the hope, then, is that this experience this weekend will be a positive one that can help facilitate that opportunity.

“It’s all about experience and ... that they see what (their hard work) has resulted in and the fun that they’ve had,” King said. “Those are the lessons that they’ll learn and they’ll get energized to put the extra effort in.”

Windermere teams advance to state

Two Windermere Little League teams advanced out of Section 5 Tournaments last weekend and will be heading southwest this weekend.

Windermere’s Little League (ages 11-12) Softball All-Stars will compete this weekend in the state tournament in Fort Myers. 

Similarly, Windermere’s Juniors (ages 13-14) Baseball All-Stars advanced to state this weekend in Sarasota.

Results from both state tournaments can be followed along by visiting FloridaLLB.org.