Wasco Diamonds rack up championship season
For the 2010 season, the Wasco Diamonds fielded 10 teams at five different levels. The Diamonds had a successful season by participating in 29 championship games and taking home 18 first-place titles. In addition, all eight senior athletes have committed to playing softball in college.
The 10-U Gems participated in three different tournaments while playing various league games throughout the week. The team worked hard, competed fiercely and had a lot fun along the way. The Gems impressed the other teams with the sportsmanship they portrayed both on and off the field.
The 10-U99 team ended their season with a record of 40-28-1 and took first place in two tournaments. The team traveled to Colorado to play in the highly competitive Colorado Sparkler and Classic. The competition was no match for the Wasco Diamonds as they took second and third place. They proved they could not only compete far away but also close to home by taking third place in the Wasco Memorial Day Classic Tournament.
The 12-U97 Diamonds had a great season by placing in eight different tournaments. By the time they were done, they had a record of 68-17. The team also joined the 10-U team in Colorado where they were the champions of the Colorado Classic. They did not stop with just one championship but took three others by the time they hung up their cleats.
The 12-U98 team racked up an impressive record of 60-28, outscored their opponents 525-204 and earned a number 1 seed in the fierce Chicago Metro. In addition, they placed in seven of the eleven tournaments. They took four third places, two second places and one championship.
The 14-UGT Diamonds competed in seven different USSSA tournaments at both the 14-U and 16-U levels. They ended their season by placing seventh out of 30 teams in the USSSA 14-U World Series. To qualify for the national tournament, they went a perfect 4-0 in the Rockin' Summer Spectacular qualifier. The 14-UGT team also took the 14-U Illinois State title and placed third and fifth in the 16-U and 14-U northern Illinois state tournaments.
The 14-UWM team had one of the best seasons the Diamonds have seen. The team took home eight championship titles, three second-place finishes and two third-place finishes. One of those third-place honors occurred alongside their fellow teams in the highly competitive Colorado Classic. At the end of the season, they competed in the one of the most competitive tournaments in softball, the ASA 14-U national tournament, where they went a perfect 2-0 in pool play before losing two heartbreakers.
At the 16-U level, the 16-UGK team ended with a winning record of 24-21. Led by terrific play from all of their players, they fought to a consolation championship over a tough Chi-Town team in the Lightning Summer Bash. However, the 16-U Diamonds did not stop there. They continued fighting until they claimed second place finish in the Didi Exposure tournament.
The 16-UMP ended their season on a high note by attending the USSSA 16-U nationals where they tied for 17th place out of 65 teams. They went 4-4 in the tournament and outscored their opponents 31-27. The team qualified for the national tournament without any problems by posting a perfect record of 4-0, scoring 29 runs and only allowing 5. During the rest of the season, the team competed in 13 elite tournaments, including four college exposures. They were the champions of two tournaments and took second in two others.
The 18-USC competed in two out-of-state exposure tournaments in Pennsylvania and Colorado while also playing locally in Oak Lawn, Elgin and Lemont. They ended their season with a winning record of 34-12 and played against many elite teams from all over the country. Each of the three of the senior members will play softball in college, two at the Division I level and one at a Division III school. Three other athletes will sign national letters of intent in November to play Division I softball.
The 18-UMTS Diamonds started their season with a bang in the fall by playing in three exposure tournaments and ending with a record of 12-2. The wins did not stop there but kept adding up throughout the summer until they had a final record of 53-12-2. In tournament play, the 18-UMTS team was 35-7 and brought back a first-place, second-place and seventh-place finish. While in Colorado with the other Diamonds, they battled to an impressive second-place finish. They also earned ASA, Triple Crown and Game Day USA national bids. As with the other 18-U team, all five of the senior players have committed to playing softball in college.