After multiple weather delays, Willcox Little Leagueโs postseason run has come to an end.
The Willcox 12U All-Stars, representing the West Region, were eliminated from the Little League Softball World Series on Friday morning in Greenville, North Carolina. Willcox lost 5-2 to a team from the Philippines representing the Asia-Pacific Region.
Because of all the delays cause by Tropical Storm Debby โ Willcox originally was supposed to play its elimination game Tuesday โ the schedule had to be compacted. Faced with the prospect of possibly playing two games in one day, Willcox coach Patrick Macumber elected to keep star pitcher Hattie Macumber, his daughter, out of the circle, instead starting her at third base.
Willcox took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but Asia-Pacific answered with three runs in the top of the second and two more in the fourth. All five runs were charged to starting pitcher Lilly Williams, although only three were earned. Macumber replaced Williams in the fourth and closed out the inning.
Macumber provided Willcoxโs lone RBI, doubling in the first inning to score Jayleen Aguirre, who had led off the frame with a single. After Williams advanced Macumber to third base via a groundout, Macumber scored on a wild pitch.
After winning back-to-back 12U state titles, Willcox advanced to the World Series for the first time. Willcox was just the fifth team from Southern Arizona to reach the Little League Softball World Series.
With Willcoxโs ouster, only one Southern Arizona team remained alive in youth postseason baseball/softball entering Friday afternoon. Tucson Post 7, featuring players from Tucson High School, was scheduled to face Clovis, California, in an elimination game in the American Legion Western Regional Tournament at 4 p.m. The Western Regional Tournament is taking place in Fairfield, California. The winner advances to the American Legion World Series in Shelby, North Carolina.
