It’s been a heck of a ride for the Washington Majestics 12U girls fastpitch club team.
Since beginning the tournament season way back in the cold and gloom of February, the Auburn-based squad has forged a hot streak that has led it to a ASA Washington State title and spot in the ASA 12U National Championships, July 30-Aug. 5 in Moline, Ill.
For head coach Steve Vandegrift, the team’s success comes as no surprise.
“These girls are very athletic and play multiple positions,” Vandegrift said. “Their athleticism and their drive and dedication has shown this season.”
Originally formed three years ago as the Acers 10U squad, Vandegrift said, the team decided to break from the Acers and start its own organization this season.
“We just felt it (the Acers organization) didn’t fit the way our girls worked,” he said.
After the 2011 summer tourney season, the team began play as the Majestics in fall ball. It wasn’t until February, however, that the team began the real climb to the top of the Washington State fastpitch heap.
“Our first tournament was in the snow,” Vandegrift said.
Despite the frigid conditions, the Majestics won their first tourney, a portent of things to come for the squad.
During the next few months the team played in numerous tournaments, posting a 59-11 record in six months, with most of its losses coming at tourneys where the squad opted up to play against 14U teams.
Along the way, the team grabbed several tourney titles, including the ASA Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan championship, where the Majestics went 5-0. At the ASA 12U Washington State tournament on July 9 the team added another title to its list of accomplishments.
“Even though we had success in the past, this was the first time we’ve been able to play in the state tournament,” Vandegrift said. “Before, you weren’t able to play in both the Seattle-Tacoma Metro Championships and the state championships. Metros were for teams from this area, where state was for the rest of the state.”
The key to the team’s success this year has been the versatility and depth of the squad, Vandegrift said.
“Madelyn Carlson is our No. 1 pitcher and our third baseman,” Vandegrift said. “And we have two other girls that get circle time, Maddy Besaw and Jen Kistner. It’s nice having three pitchers. They’re all serviceable, they all get in and get innings, and when you play late on a Sunday, that’s good. The deeper you go in the weekend the more innings you play. So it definitely helps.”
Offensively the team looks to leadoff hitter and second baseman Megan Vandegrift, as well as Natalie Joyner, an outfielder who hits clean up.
“It’s hard to single these kids out because they’ve all done well,” she said.
Also key has been the team’s togetherness, Vandegrift said.
“They get along amazingly well,” he said. “It is a special group.”
The Majestics will get a chance to find out how special they are when they square off against the best 12U fastpitch teams in the country at the ASA Nationals.
“There are supposed to be more than 100 teams there,” Vandegrift said.
Currently, the team is looking to raise money for their trip to the nationals, which Vandegrift said will cost the team about $30,000.
In order to pay for all the players to go back, they are fundraising and hosting a raffle for luxury-seat tickets to a Seattle Seahawks game this season.
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For more information, visit www.washingtonmajestics.com.
