Wicked Softball Team Heads to Nationals

It’s a far cry from the typical girls’ softball jerseys, but the Redwood City Wicked 12 U B Girls Softball team will don heavy sweatshirts and sweatpants during their upcoming practices. The girls advanced to Western Nationals in Fresno in August and need to acclimate themselves to the oppressive heat in the Central Valley.

After rigorous practices all season, the Redwood City Wicked 12 U B Girls Softball team took 5th place at the Junior Olympic Nor-Cal championship Sunday. This is the highest the Redwood City team has placed since the team’s founding in 2006 and earned them a spot at Western Nationals.

Girls from all over California, Nevada and Utah will be competing in the tournament.

“It’s going to be fun just to be there,” said Utilities player Marissa MacAvoy, 13, of the geographical diversity of all the teams.

But the 12-player team is not letting its competitive edge wane. All the girls tried out to be on the Wicked team, whose season occurs post-recreational season, when anyone can play. And the team name in no way reflects their work ethic, laughed Center and Right fielder Nicole Bourque, 12.

“This proves that hard work does pay off,” said Coach Jeff Miller. “They stayed focused for such a young age and especially through the heat.”

He added that lessons on the field translated off the field as well.

“For the female athlete, there’s no pro league for them to go and make millions of dollars,” Miller said. “So this is just a great way for them to learn team unity and work hard for a common goal.”

Marissa's mother, Alisa MacAvoy, added that participating in a team sport empowered the young girls and instilled in them a sense of accomplishment.

The camaraderie was built into the fabric of the team years ago. Bourque explained that many of the girls had been playing together since they were six years old.

“If someone makes a bad play, the whole team picks up the player and she goes back in to make a huge play,” Bourque said.

The girls feed off each other’s energy, MacAvoy added. The more they practice, the higher their enthusiasm spikes.

“My coach says ‘hitting is contagious.’ Once everyone starts hitting, then everyone starts hitting," MacAvoy said.

The pitchers practice every weekday, with the catchers out in the field catching all the fly balls. After July 4th, the girls will resume practices for their upcoming tournament in Pleasanton.

Bourque said this was one of her favorite tournaments of the year because all the players get to stay overnight in a hotel. And as in any typical slumber party, the girls love running down the hallways and swimming in the hotel’s pool.

But no matter which place the team finishes, the team has the energy and motivation to continue improving for many years to come, together as one team.