(Image Courtesy @LLSBWorldSeries via Twitter)
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Waco Midway 12U softball team finished a strong journey through the Little League softball playoffs by winning the World Series Championship on Monday. Midway had to come back from a 3-0 deficit to over take Maryland by a 5-4 score in extra innings.
The win completed a 5-0 record in the World Series tournament. Midway came out of the Southwest Region where they won that tourney by going 3-1. Midway’s only loss in the Little League playoffs was to a team from Kenner, Louisiana.
Part of their march included defeating Floydada in the championship of Texas West State tournament in Abilene in July. It was the first time Floydada had a Little League team play for a Texas West title. Texas West is third step of the Little League playoff format after winning District and Sectional. “I knew Midway was a very good team when we played them twice in Abilene. They had an excellent pitcher that was a lefty. Their batting lineup was very strong from top to bottom and the subs that would come off of the bench,” said Ray Perez who has coached youth softball with his wife Erica for 15-years.
“As Midway marched through the Southwest Region and the World Series tournament, I realized how disciplined they were. They were a focused team and well put together. They were very capable of handling adversity and a will to dig deep when needed. I am sure this was a ‘dream come true’ for the girls. It was a probably a once in a lifetime experience that will carry great memories for years to come,” expressed a very respectable Perez.
“I know Erica and my daughter Bella watched all of Midway’s games on TV in the World Series, and I was told that most of the Floydada team and parents were tuned in also. You know we had a pretty special team and season ourselves. Floydada showed us a lot of support and they are doing the same with the Lady Winds high school program,” expressed Perez. Ray and Erica Perez are proud to be a part of developing young softball players and hopefully enjoy the fruit of success with the Lady Winds.
The Floydada team called themselves the Futures. In approximately two years and the four years to follow in high school, the Futures will grow up to be Lady Winds. They are on a path that is very similar to the journey of a previous youth team known as the Diamond Dusters. Four players from the 2022 Regional I-2A Semi-finalist will be playing collegiately in the 2023 season. Those players are pitcher Erin Trevino at Sul Ross State University, shortstop Clari Delafuente and catcher Marissa Obregon at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, plus second baseman Kailee Sanchez at Frank Phillips College.
2022 FLOYDADA FUTURES 12U
Maddie Pyle pitcher / SS
Bella Perez pitcher / SS
Karah Cavazos catcher
Jenna Martinez 1B
Brooke Pyle 2B
Bailey McHam 3B
Abby Reyes OF / SS
Abryee Delafuente OF
Sian Diaz Salazar OF
Emily Martinez OF
