Local softball all-stars ready to make mark at Chico sections

Face Sacramento in first game on Saturday, July 18

Camryn Ridgley, 13, of the Del Norte Little League Softball All-Star team throws a pitch at practice on Tuesday. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

The Del Norte Little League Junior softball All-Stars are ready to make some noise in section play.

The team, consisting of girls 13 and 14 years old will play at the section event in Chico starting on Saturday in double elimination play.

Head coach Rick White said the team is strong in all aspects of the game, especially with defense and pitching, and they are good hitters as well.

“It’s a true all-star team,” he said. “It’s been a blast coaching them. They’re just a fun group.”

The girls bring the right attitude to the team by having an enjoyable time with their friends, laughing and joking around, but being serious and focused when they take the field to play a game, their coach said.

Go here to see more photos from the practice.

“We’re family,” she said.

Chandler Davis has played softball in the area since she was little and said she is pumped up to be playing in sections during her last year with Little League.

“We’re all really excited,” she said. “We got a good all-around team.”

Davis already has made quite an impression with the Del Norte High School softball team as a freshman this past year. After starting the year in junior varsity she finished the season starting for the varsity team.

Davis said the key to the all-star team’s success is that it’s a true team effort with everyone doing their part to help the squad.

Last month, Del Norte won  the District 26 Junior All-Star Tournament in Crescent City.

The Del Norte squad soundly defeated the Redwood Empire of Eureka 11-0 in the championship game for the right to go on to sections.

Del Norte will have a challenging first game on Saturday facing the Sacramento all-star team, which is predicted by many to be the team to beat, White said.

After all, White said, Sacramento is a large city with a lot of girls to choose from.

But despite Del Norte’s substantially smaller size, he said this area produces a top-notch group of softball players.

One does not have to look further than the Del Norte High softball team, which has been dominant  for several years,  won a section title back in 2008 and made it to the semifinals this year.

White believes his team has the talent to pull off the upset win and be contenders to win the section crown.