Windermere Little League 8-10 softball All-Stars prepare for Southeast regionals

At the end of every Little League season, each age group in baseball and softball put together a collection of that area’s best players to form an All-Star team to compete in various postseason tournaments — such as districts, sectionals and states. 

In the nine games across those three postseason tournaments, the Windermere Little League 8- to 10-year-old Softball All-Stars never lost and claimed all three titles. 

But this group of elementary-school softball players didn’t just win these games, they dominated them. In four of the nine games, the Windermere All-Stars didn’t allow a single run. In six of the nine games, the team scored more than 10 runs. In all nine of the games, Windermere won by three runs or more. In total, the group of All-Stars outscored its postseason opponents by a whopping 109 combined runs (120-11). 

This sort of performance earned WLL a spot in the last and most difficult championship available to its age group: the Southeast regional tournament July 26-28 in Clarksville, Tennessee. 

To win the top prize, against the best teams from each of the region’s seven other states — Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia — the group of Windermere’s best will have to continue to lean into the identity they have built through the past couple of months. 

Built on the basics

One of the biggest reasons for the All-Star team’s success is the dedication and time each player has given to improving their individual skills as softball players.

“All of these girls started playing in our Little League years ago,” All-Star team coach Andre Visser said. “Ever since an even younger age than now, every one of them has come out to put in extra work to improve their throws (and) their hitting. A lot of them come here to take pitching lessons.” 

Because of that extra preparation, Visser and his assistant coaches — Brian Goldberg and Jared Czachorowski — were able to choose to spend the summer-long postseason focusing not only hitting and pitching but also on teaching their young players the basics of the game.

“My assistant coaches — Brian and Jared — and I decided to take this group of girls and really help them learn the game of softball,” Visser said. “We wanted to help them develop their IQ for the game, help them learn the mental side of playing defense — things like where to move, where to back up, what to do in what situation. We also wanted to teach them the basics of base-running and when to be aggressive on the bases. I feel like that focus has made us a very well-rounded team. When we’re on defense, these girls have an understanding of what to do when the batter hits the ball to them or near them. This growth in the mental side of the game has overall made us a very solid team and the girls have grown as players these past two months.”

Total team effort

Another facet of this All-Star team’s identity and its subsequent success is that every member of the team contributes to the win — whether it be from in the pitcher’s circle, batter’s box or inside the dugout.

Led by Paityn Lavigne, who has the most hits of the group, the WLL All-Stars’ bats have been debilitating to its opponents this postseason, averaging an overwhelming 13.3 runs per game. 

“Every girl on the team has hit the ball, gotten on base and scored multiple runs for us in our nine games,” Visser said. “We’ve also had at least three, maybe four girls hit inside-the-park home runs. … Overall, our hitting has been very good. Even in tough situations, like two outs, two strikes, our girls have been great at making contact and putting the ball in play to force the other team to execute on defense; and at this level, mistakes happen and we’ve done a great job of taking advantage of that.”

In the circle for the Windermere All-Stars, Ella Goldberg leads the three-pitcher staff that has been lights out, only allowing a bit over one run per game. The depth at the position is unique in this sport, which often sees one pitcher take a majority of the workload. Having this group of three allows Visser and his staff the ability to confuse their opponent while also preserving their pitchers. 

“One of the most intriguing parts of our team is that we have a lot of depth at the pitcher spot,” Visser said. “That allows us to switch pitchers in and out when they get tired or switch them out so the other team’s batters don’t see the same pitcher more than once or twice. This is a huge advantage for us.”

Beyond their actual play on the diamond, a characteristic of this collection of All-Stars that helps them win ball games is the energy they bring to cheering on one another during games and in practice. 

“Bringing a positive energy to the dugout is a big part of any team, especially in softball,” Visser said. “In this sport, girls are always cheering each other on, and it always feels in a game, whichever team is cheering on their teammates the loudest is the team that seems to get that extra base hit or get that motivation to go out there and get the win. So, I feel it’s important that the girls cheer each other on whether it’s when somebody makes a great play or if they get a great hit.”

For the Windermere All-Stars, that positive attitude and vocal leadership starts with the player behind home plate, catcher Presley Duroseau.  

“Presley has been a great team leader for us,” Visser said. “Not only is she our lead catcher for our lead pitcher, Ella, but she also is the loudest one on the field and in the dugout. She motivates the team before each game. She’s the one that brings them out there and pumps them up.”

Duroseau knows her role as the vocal leader of the group is going to be a big factor in their success at regionals. 

“For us to win regionals, I definitely feel like we need to work together more, talk more in the field and be more hyped up in the dugout,” she said. “I know that I need to be the one hyping up the team on the field. I just have to be loud out there; I can’t be quiet. Like some people are just quiet out there, and that’s not going to hype your team up. You need to be like hyped up to do that.”

Along with Duroseau, Samy Czachorowski is another member of the All-Star team hype train. 

“Samy is another great team leader for us — especially on the field,” Visser said. “She is the one cheering the loudest out there. I hear all the time from the dugout yelling to the batter’s box when she’s on base, saying something like: ‘Come on, bring me home.’ Or something like, ‘Let’s go! Get a hit to bring me home.’ She’s a big part of energy because she’s always cheering everybody on.”

Don’t forget to have fun

At the end of the day though, what has stood out about this team isn’t the clever coaching decisions, pitching depth, potent bats or positive encouragement. It’s been how much fun this group of elementary-age girls are having playing the sport they love. 

Ultimately, winning all these trophies has been a great part of the experience, but when you ask them about their favorite part of the past two months, they’re just happy to have been able to spend time playing softball with their friends.

“I have really enjoyed playing all these games, because I love being with my team,” said All-Star team player Lexi Penate. “It’s really fun playing with my teammates. They’re just all really nice, and I love being a part of this team because of how well we all get along together.”

Savannah Nguyen agreed. 

“The best part of all these championships is spending more time with my teammates,” she said. “It’s been great working hard with them and seeing us all get better together each step of the way.”

WLL player Ella Goldberg said: “My favorite part has been the practices, because I’ve been able to spend time with my team and grow our bond together. Then, taking those bonds to games and cheering (one another) on has been great. I feel like we’re a great team.”