12-and-under Wellington Rebels have been dominating USSSA summer ball
The Wellington Rebels are a USSSA team that has been racking up runs and wins.
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington Rebels, a 12-and-under girls softball team, has been doing this little thing called winning and winning a lot.
So much so that they are dominating their Wichita Twin Rivers Youth Club league, winning three out of the last four summer tournaments, and have been invited to attend a national tournament in Bixby, Okla. They were even invited to participate in the USSSA Girls Softball World Series in Kissimmee, Fla., although due to logistics they will not be able to attend.
This is good news for Crusader girls softball fans. Most of these Rebels will eventually be coming into the program in a few years.
The team is coached by Brady Walker and assistant Jared Brown.
In the past few months, the team is 32-8. They are undefeated in the TRYC League. But Walker said winning is secondary.
“I don’t care if they don’t win one more game,” Walker said. “I want them to learn how to work hard, trust one another and become great young ladies in life.”
Walker describes his team as tenacious. The team plays great defense, whacks the ball with ferocity, and runs the bases with great speed.
They are also resourceful. In five games this season, they were behind by at least three runs, and would come back to win.
“I really would like it if they would take another route to win these games,” Walker said. “It wears me out. But they keep winning.”
Of those come-from-behind wins, the Rebels have won two in a tournament championship and two in the semifinals. In the past four USSSA sponsored tournaments, they have accumulated a 26-3 record. They have taken tournaments at South Lakes, the Wichita Hawaiian Hitfest and the Kansas USSSA West State in Derby. They finished second in Wellington’s own Schools Out for Summer tournament a month ago.
Brecken Whitney on the pitching mound for the Rebels.
The team has a cumulative .393 batting average, and averages seven runs a game while allowing their opponents just three. Walker said he estimates the Rebels on base percentage is .750.
“I have about seven of 11 players who are hitting over .400,” Walker said. “The others figure out a way to get on base.”
Walker has his daughter Josie Walker and Macey Pond get on base, then he uses his RBI machines likes Airalyn Frame and Jaycee Heater to clean up and score runs.
“We don’t do a lot of bunting,” Walker said. “We hit the ball, and get on base. Then we steal and steal again. It drives our opponents nuts.”
Wellington has two good pitchers on the mound. Heidi Gulick is the primary pitcher with Brecken Whitney coming in relief.
The team is mostly made up of incoming seventh and eighth graders with a sixth grader.
They are setting their sights on Bixby for the national tournament on July 14-18.
“It’s been a quite a ride,” Walker said. “These girls really want to win.”
The members of the team include: Alyssa Bridges, Jordyn Brown, Airalyn Frame, Heidi Gulick, Katelyn Haines, Shiana Hughes, Macey Pond, Kasiah Richmond, Hayley Trotter, Josie Walker, Brecken Whitney and Jaycee Heater.
