Butler 12U softball continues winning tradition
BUTLER TWP — Winning can be more than contagious. In the case of these girls, it’s non-stop.
Butler’s 12U girls softball team recently captured its second successive Alle-Kiski League championship — and third title in four years overall — with a 4-1 win over West Shamokin in the championship game. The team has won 31 of 32 games over the past two seasons.
Its lone loss was a narrow decision to West Shamokin during the regular season this year.
When playing in the 10U division, the team reached the championship game two years ago and lost, but won the league title the year before that.
“It’s been quite a run for these girls,” assistant coach John Mills said. “The core of this team has been together for five years now, almost since T-ball. They’ve come a long way during that time.
“They’re very compatible with each other. They communicate with each other. We hit the ball well — averaging 10 or more runs per game — and I don’t think we’ve given up more than three runs in a game all year.”
The team won most of its games by the 10-run mercy rule.
“Our scores have been lopsided,” head coach Mike Garbinski said. “This is a special group. We’ll move up with them as coaches to the next level. We’ve been with them for four years now and we’ve all got daughters on the team.
“As they get older, they seem to be figuring things out for themselves more and more.”
Garbinski said the team is strong up the middle with solid pitching, catching and infield play. Prior to the title win over West Shamokin, Butler defeated Armstrong #1 14-2 and Armstrong #2 10-0 in postseason play.
Three of the players on the team — Kyra Olivares, Ella Golob and Kaylin Garbinski — played on the Butler Middle School softball team and did travel ball along with playing recreational softball in the Alle-Kiski League.
“About seven of these giirls play travel ball along with being on this team,” assistant coach Jeannette Brown said. “They’ve played a lot of softball these past couple of years amd don’t get tired of it.”
Travel ball took place on weekends while the Alle-Kiski League games were Monday through Thursday.
Other girls on the team were Khloe Brown, Cailyn Holt, Aryanna Golob, Stevie Lesney, Alaina Garbinski, Ava Ryan, Angelina Cannon, Brooklyn Mills, Riley Neubauer and Macie Eichenauer.
Coach Brown described the championship game as “a nail-biter that wasn’t decided until the later innings. We didn’t have many games like that, but the girls weren’t fazed at all. They know what it takes to win.”
Crystal Neubauer joined the coaching staff for the first time this season.
“The work so well together and it’s fun watching them mature as they get older,” Neubauer said. “There’s really not a weak spot. Pitching, hitting, fielding, the girls do everything well.
“It’s just a great group of girls who love softball.”
