The Goleta Thunder 10U team capped off their 2022 All-Star season with a second-place finish in the USA Western National Championships in Salem, Oregon last week.
In the tournament, Goleta went head to head with some of the best softball teams in the country.
The Thunder defeated Glendora, Simi Valley and the Northwest Bullets to get off to a hot start in pool play. They followed up that performance with wins over San Mateo, the Rampage, El Rio and Simi Valley in bracket play.
After being sent to the losers’ bracket in the double-elimination tournament, Goleta took down Poway 6-1 and advanced to the championship game against Rancho Trabuco.
In the championship, their run fell short with a close 8-6 loss to Rancho Trabuco. Despite the loss, the second-place finish was a historic one, as it was the first time a GVGSA 10U team reached the championship game at Western Nationals.
This ending capped off a great summer for the 10U squad, who finished with an overall record of 48-6-1 that included six first-place wins and three second-place finishes in 10 total tournaments.
“The coaching staff is extremely proud of the hard work that the girls put in over the summer as well as their commitment and dedication to the team,” head coach Cyrus Morici said.
Members of the team include Bailey Conway (OF), Cami Weiss (OF), Dylann Ramirez (C), Emily Morici (P), Jasmine Rollman (OF), Lily Fennell (OF), Kylie Buben (2B), Maddy Meza (SS), Michelle Galicia (OF), Sofia Bautista (1B) and Sophia Munoz (3B). The team’s coaches include Cyrus Morici, Justin Ramirez, Eric Buben, Mario Galicia, Julie Weiss, and Barry Waybright.