Shawano’s softball program could be a force to be reckoned with in the Shawano Youth League tournament if opening night is any indication.
On Friday, the Shawano girls U12 Black squad drubbed Bonduel 16-1 in four innings.
Shawano coach Alison Van Grinsven was not surprised, noting the SYL has made a push to develop the future Shawano Community High School softball players.
“Overall, we were down years prior, but we are building,” said Van Grinsven, a 2013 SCHS graduate. “It helps that we have former and current varsity letter winners and former athletes (such as Alli Raddant and Erin Isaacson) coming back to help the program.
“This year, they really wanted to push it, and wanted to have the girls look up to someone other than their parents.”
SYL this year also added a second Shawano girls 12U softball team, which placed third at a tournament in Kaukauna in June.
Both Shawano squads are among the 32 teams competing this weekend, which includes tourneys for boys 8U baseball and girls 10U softball.
In other games Friday, the Shawano girls 10U softball team lost 7-3 to Seymour and the boys 8U baseball team lost 8-6 to Menasha.
“The boys battled back. They played hard. … They are getting there,” said Dustin Beyer, SYL president. “There are some pretty talented kids.”
The tournaments continue through the weekend, with opening pitches slated for 8 a.m. both days.
“There will be more than 12 hours of baseball, so it should be a great time,” Beyer said.
