After a blistering defensive start Sunday at the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina, the team from Willcox Little League found itself pushed into the elimination bracket Monday after a 3-0 loss to Cranston Western of Rhode Island.
Monday’s loss, which saw Willcox muster just three hits — one apiece from Julie Larson, Josey Benavides and Genesis Quezada — means Willcox, the “West Region” team in the 2024 LLSWS bracket, next plays Tuesday against Negros Occidental Little League of Bacalod City, Philippines; Cranston Western is the “New England Region” representative, while Negros Occidental is the “Asia-Pacific Region” team in the 12-team series.
Tuesday’s game will air nationally on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. (Arizona time), with the winner staying alive, and the loser’s season coming to a close.
Monday’s loss came a day after Willcox pitcher Hattie Macumber struck out 15 against West Point Little League of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Macumber allowed three hits and one run by the “Mid-Atlantic Region” representative over six innings pitched in a 2-1 Willcox victory to open the series for both teams.
Macumber has thrown every inning from the circle for Willcox over two games so far, including striking out seven while allowing five hits and three runs over five innings of work in defeat Monday.
Willcox managed just three hits in the opener as well; Jayleen Aguirre, Macumber and Navaeh Reyes each had one hit against West Point, with Macumber also reaching on a walk.
The “Asia-Pacific Region” team Willcox will face Tuesday on national television lost its series opener Sunday — a 10-0 run-rule defeat to Pitt County Girls Softball Little League of Winterville, North Carolina, the “North Carolina Region” representative. The “Asia-Pacific Region” team failed to muster a hit over the four-inning shortened game, dropping Negros Occidental into the elimination bracket early on.
A Willcox win Tuesday and the team from Southern Arizona will play at 10 a.m. Wednesday in a game available on ESPN+ (streaming subscription required).
Led by star pitcher Hattie Macumber, World Series-bound Willcox is the Little League team that could
Michael Lev column: The Willcox 12U All-Star team has defied the odds by reaching the Little League Softball World Series. But the squad from a small town in Southern Arizona didn’t come out of nowhere.
The Willcox 12U All-Star team will open play at the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina, Sunday at 7 a.m. The game can be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). The Willcox team: (top row, from left) Stephany Aguilar, Jayleen Aguirre, Josey Benavides, Julie Larson; (middle row, from left) Hattie Macumber, Daylin Medrano, Aaliyah Nielson, Genesis Quezada; (bottom row, from left) Kassandra Ramirez, Nevaeh Reyes, Aleesa Sanchez, Lilly Williams.
The Willcox Little League 12U All-Star team coaching staff: (from left) manager Patrick Macumber and coaches Dustin Benavides and Paco Aguirre.
