Lady Warriors fast-pitch softball?

WORLAND — A movement to make girls fast-pitch softball a high school sanctioned event in Wyoming has come to Worland.

Members of the Worland Wildfires fast-pitch softball made a brief presentation to the Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees Monday night in hopes that someday the Worland Wildfires would become the Worland Lady Warriors and compete for their high school in Wyoming High School Activities Association sanctioned contests.

Worland Wildfires coach and board member Deb Coronado said her husband Dave was asked to reintroduce fast-pitch softball in 2012. “It’s grown from girls not knowing much about softball at all, to girls winning trophies and state championships,” she said.

She said the Worland Wildfires fields two teams now, each with about 15 players, with a peak at 45 total players a few years ago. In 2016 the 14 and under team placed third; the team took second in 2017 and the players moved up to the 16 and under division this summer, winning the state title.

Last fall they were encouraged to participate in fall ball with Rock Springs, Gillette, Casper and Cody. Coronado said in an interview that they played in the junior varsity division, which is based on the level of pitching for teams. “We have two pitchers who are still developing,” she said.

She said right now fast-pitch softball is considered a club sport and two of the teams wear their school jerseys when playing fall ball. The Wildfires would like the same opportunity, but the ultimate goal is for the sport to be a fully sanctioned sport in the state.

She said the Worland Wildfires League President Sean Duffy spoke with District Superintendent David Nicholas and Activities Director Mark Mortimer about the idea and they agreed to the give the team a few minutes to present the idea during the board meeting under audience/public comment. The board, per its policy does not discuss nor take action on these items.

Coronado said the hope is for the team to be able to come back at another meeting and make a more formal presentation and request official support from the school to work toward making fast-pitch softball a sanctioned high school sport in Wyoming.

Coronado said the Cody school board has stated they would support the sport if it becomes sanctioned by the WHSAA. Rock Springs will be voting on support next month, she said.

If the sport does become sanctioned, Coronado said it would be a spring sport. She noted the Worland Wildfires currently start practicing in March so she would not anticipate any drop off in the number of players with soccer and track going on at the same time.

“The movement is snowballing this year,” Coronado said. She noted that some of the schools are pushing for the sport through Title IX request since the state lost gymnastics as a sport, there is the push to get softball in.

For the Worland Wildfires, Coronado said, it is more about giving girls an option who don’t play soccer or run track. It’s also about wanting to play for their school, school pride and school spirit.

Worland, the coach noted, has a lot of rich history of fast-pitch softball, with the Monarchs being competitive around the state.

Coronado said the hope is to start a spring season in 2020.

“Of course, the elephant in the room is going to be budget,” Coronado said.

She said if fast-pitch softball does not become a sanctioned sport, then the Wildfires League Board would be seeking to get the team recognized as a club sport so they could still wear Worland Lady Warriors jerseys.

PLAYERS COMMENTS

Several members of the Wildfires team also spoke to the board about the importance of softball to them.

Raychel Duffy, a junior at WHS said, “Adding girls softball to the school will not only let girls who were not built for other sports have fun but it’s also a fresh start.”

“Softball is a sport made for all types of girls. I, myself, am not built for a lot of running and jumping or even other types of sports, but I have been successful in this sport even if I’m not built like others,” she added.

She said softball also help players think ahead, it is a strategic game and provides the ultimate definition of teamwork. “It’s not individualized. Softball can not work unless all players are willing to work together.”

Duffy said throughout middle school and high school girls are faced with the same options for sports. “With softball it is something new and intriguing,” she said. “With this extra option you will create a new community, a better community and a community of a variety of girls,” she said.

Vivian Mosbroker said softball is the only sport she plays and she loves it “deeply.” She said that while she has enjoyed sharing the accomplishments with the team over the past three years, it would mean even more to share those accomplishments with the school as well.

She said it would be a dream come true to give girls a chance to play softball in high school and that would lead to chances to play softball in college.

She added that Wyoming currently is the only state without softball.

MaxPreps shows 49 of the 50 states have high school softball, along with the District of Columbia.

Carmyn Buckman relayed the story about when she was 10 she was walking out of the community center and was approached by a 12U coach to play softball. While hesitant a few weeks later she said she walked onto the “first softball field I would ever grow to love with a team of 15 girls I had never met.” She said over the next five years that team changed and grew in skill, trust and closeness.

“Win or lose we cheer for each other. We play for the name on front of our jerseys [Worland Wildfires]. I know I would fight harder still if I could only play with Lady Warriors on the front.”

She said she would like to play softball at the collegiate level and without a high school sport, getting that opportunity will be even harder.

“I don’t see why my dreams should be limited by my state,” Buckman added.

Jill Duffy said, “Softball is a sport that I would like to play when I get to high school because it would give me a chance to go to good college, but also it would be a chance to represent the United States and Worland, Wyoming, on future teams, at a higher level.”

She said softball has helped her visualize her goals and teaches her how to accomplish them. “It’s about being a wholesome group. You win as a team. You lose as a team.”

Zoe Fernandez said she has played softball since the age of 8, and was one of the original members of the 12 and under team.

“Now a junior at Worland High School, softball has become a big part of my life and has shaped who I am as an individual and team member. I have learned many important lessons that help me out as an academic performer and player. I’ve learned how to have an open mindset, have patience and to be kind and developed meaningful relationships that will last a lifetime,” Fernandez said.

She added, “One of my dreams has been to play softball for my high school as both of them matter so much to me. Our sport could bring more pride to Worland High.”

Softball is the only sport Fernandez plays and while the outlook for a sanctioned team does not appear likely during her time at WHS, she hopes future players will have the chance to play softball for WHS. She encouraged the board and school to support the efforts to make softball a high school sport.