Peoria-area players help Illinois win Senior League Softball World Series
A youth softball team with a collection of players from across central Illinois, including some from the Peoria area, won the 2023 Senior Little League Softball World Series on Sunday night.
Illinois District 17 defeated defending champion Texas, 5-4, to win the title in Sussex County, Delaware. It was the second straight year District 17 qualified for the series. The 2022 team lost in the quarterfinals.
The team — based out of Beardstown — has five players and a coach from the Journal Star circulation area: Cora Ellison of Glasford Illini Bluffs, Kylie Robinson of Macomb, Kaydi Miller and Jaylynn Sarnes of Havana and Italee Ford of Rushville-Industry. Macomb coach Shawna Robinson is an assistant.
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Other players include Mia Volpert of Springfield High, Chatham Glenwood’s Taryn Griffith, Vanessa Nunez of Beardstown, Pleasant Plains’ Aspen Kitowski, Pleasant Hill’s Ava Wombles, Caitlin Bunte of Quincy Notre Dame, Audrey Gilman of Hardin Calhoun, Pittsfield’s Emma Henry and Grace Henry and Concord Triopia’s Mylee Tracy.
The head coach is Tom Orr of Beardstown. His assistant coaches are Franklin’s Richard Henry and Robinson.
Volpert pitched all nine innings, allowed nine hits, one earned run, three walks and she struck out six. She also hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning that gave Illinois a 3-2 lead and fielded the final out.
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The team went 4-0 in regionals to qualify for the World Series. In pool play, District 17 steamrolled to a 4-0 record 37-7. The closest game in pool play came in a 3-2 win over Canada. In the quarterfinal round, Illinois walloped Puerto Rico 16-0 and defeated Hawaii 9-0 to reach the title game.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois District 17 win 2023 Senior League Softball World Series
