Looking for a repeat

Softball squad is  ready to take part in district tourney

Allison Douglas of the Del Norte Little League 9- and 10-year-old softball All-Star team works on her hitting at practice on Tuesday. Starting on Saturday, the squad will take part in the District 26 tournament as they compete against teams from Humboldt County in a double elimination event. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

The Del Norte Little League 9- and 10-year-old softball All-Star team is ready to defend its crown starting this weekend in Humboldt County.

Last year, the team went 3-0 to earn the District 26 title and received a berth in regionals.

With four returners and a group of promising newcomers, head coach Angela Calleja said that the squad would love to earn another crown in 2011.

“We’ve been looking strong,” she said.

 Tvshiina Jacobs, who was on the team last season, concurred.

“We want to win it all like we did last year,” she said.

The double elimination tournament begins for Del Norte at 11:30 p.m. Saturday against Hoopa in McKinleyville. The title game will be on Friday.

While the squad certainly would like to win the title again, Calleja’s hope is for  the team to enjoy playing, be competitive and have a good time.

Calleja said that while the team is solid overall, it’s strength is its strong defense, which can quickly get to the ball, get outs and limit runs.

It also helps to have four returners from last year back in the mix.

“They have the experience and the mental aspect of the game down,” Calleja said.

In her second year on the All-Star squad, Brook Nolan has been playing the sport since T-Ball.

She said that it’s been great to play with others who are also passionate about softball and said many teammates know each other and have played together before, which certainly helps on the field.

“We’ve all been playing as a team,” she said. “Everyone here I like. Everyone’s cool.”

This is the first year Allison Douglas made the All-Star team.

She was quite excited when she found out she had been chosen.

“She screamed into the phone,” Calleja said with a laugh.

“It was pretty fun and exciting when I heard I made the team,” Douglas recalled.

Douglas said that it’s been a great experience so far in the few weeks they have been practicing together. The team  consists of players from several different DNLL teams.

Regardless of what happens, Douglas said her main goal “is to have the most fun experience.”

The team is being assisted by coaches Mark and John Horner and Tim Nolan.

The Little League regular season recently concluded in Del Norte County, with around 460 kids as young as four and as old as 16 taking part, Little League president Jon Nuszkiewicz said.

“It was a good turnout of kids this year,” he said.

 Nuszkiewicz said the All-Star teams are a great way to reward the kids for their play throughout the regular season and  give them the chance to compete against other elite squads from out of the area.

“It’s great to have them play against the best from Humboldt County,” he said.