Beach/Bonita softball all-stars win districts
The combined Fort Myers Beach-Bonita Springs Little League all-star softball team of nine- and 10-year-old girls won the District 18 Tournament championships in Lehigh Acres and will represent their district in the Section 6 tournament July 18.
The team -three girls from the Beach and six from Bonita- defeated host Lehigh Acres, 14-8, before walloping San Carlos Park by a 16-1 score to take the district title June 27.
All three Beach players contributed. Hurler Mikayla Costello pitched seven strong innings over the two games, while Jessica Santiago batted clean-up for the champs and Madi Cai Macko played a tough third base. Bonita girls Caitlyn Giacolone and Kaitlyn Martel hit back-to-back homers to lead a prolific offense.
The “underdog” girls played steady defense and aggressive offense under the leadership of Manager Debbie Smith of Bonita. The Beach’s Charlie Whitehead assisted Smith in the coaching.
“We might have accomplished a first,” said Smith on her team’s first and, maybe, the local league’s inaugural district win. “It was very satisfying.”
Smith admitted to crying at the post-game pizza party.
“I was so happy for the girls,” she said. “I started crying when I told the girls how proud of them I was.”
According to Smith, the team has overcome a lot of hurdles. Getting nine players was a hurdle and combining teams was a hurdle, she said.
Five of the nine players on FMB/Bonita did not have previous experience in the sport. “It was their first season ever swinging a bat or catching a ball,” Smith said.
Three teams -FMB/Bonita (District 18); Golden Gate (District 27); Cape Coral or South Fort Myers will square off to represent District 9- will play in the three-game Section 6 championship at Lehigh Acres Community Park. The winner goes to Tampa for a chance to compete for a state title.
“The first game is Golden gate versus whoever the District 9 champ is, while the second game has FMB/Bonita versus the loser of the first game and the third game is us versus the winner of the first game,” said Smith. “The team with the best record is the winner.”
In the event of a tie, the team which allows the least amount of runs is crowned the champion.
If FMB/Bonita moves on to the state level, Smith expects tougher competition.
“It’ll be an uphill battle,” said Smith. “We’re playing leagues that have 1,000 kids in them. For our team, we’re still looking to see who’s available that day. We’re hoping to get more girls to play softball next year.”
The girls have been practicing each night this week at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus.
Fort Myers Beach Bonita Springs 9-10 Softball All-Stars
Mikayla Costello, 10, Beach
Heather Cunningham, 9, Bonita
Caitlynn Giacolone, 10, Bonita
Madi Cai Macko, 10, Beach
Kaitlynn Martel, 10, Bonita
Katie Rivera, 9, Bonita
Jessica Santiago, 10, Beach
Sydney Sawyer, 10, Bonita
Sarah Smith, 9, Bonita
Manager: Debbie Smith, Bonita 287-6071
Coach: Charlie Whitehead, Beach