The Eastdale Little League minor softball team won the New Mexico State title on Sunday morning at Atrisco Valley Little League with a 24-11 win over Las Vegas, completing an undefeated 9-0 run for the Eastdale All Star team.
Led by a stellar pitching performance by Andrea Griego-DeMarcus, the Eastdale All Stars limited a strong Las Vegas team to 11 runs in four innings. Griego-DeMarcus made her only start of the tournament in relief of star pitcher Elli Breckenridge, who was unable to play in the championship game due to a family commitment.
Breckenridge threw consecutive shutouts in the first two games of the championship round, including an impressive 8-0 shutout of Las Vegas in round two of the double-elimination bracket. In round one of the tournament, Breckenridge showed off her power at the plate with a towering two-run home run over the centerfield wall that landed 20 feet beyond the fence.
Offensively, the Eastdale All Stars proved that winning a State Championship takes a complete team effort, with all 12 players contributing either an RBI or a run scored. First baseman Olivia Chavez (Stix) and catcher Addisen Byers (Crush) led the team with three and four RBI’s respectively, while reserve outfielder Zoe Green contributed with her first two hits of the tournament to drive in two runs.
On defense, the Eastdale girls stepped up to the challenge of playing without their No. 1 starter by backing Griego-DeMarcus with play after play in the field, highlighted by a perfect throw by Byers to third baseman Bella Swanson to gun down a runner attempting to steal third base in the top of the fourth inning.
The game ended on a slow dribbler to Griego-DeMarcus in front of the rubber, with the pitcher making a steady throw to first baseman Olivia Chavez to secure the win. It was a great moment for a collection of 13 girls who sacrificed half of their summer vacation to practice daily in 100-degree weather, with the goal of winning the program’s first minor division state softball championship and Eastdale’s first state softball title since the 2012 World Series winning team.
Eastdale Minor Softball Team
Sophia Adams, Elli Breckenridge, Addisen Byers, Makayla Chavez, Olivia Chavez, Brooklynn Eardley, Alex Fox, Mya Garcia, Zoe Green, Andrea Griego-DeMarcus, Kate Hella, Bella Swanson, & Kylin Zapach.
Coaching Staff
Jim Breckenridge, Buddy Adams, Mick Byers, Lora Fox, Andy Swanson, & Mark Zapach.