By Kyle LoJacono
The Land O’ Lakes 9- and 10-year-old softball team brought home something never seen before in Central Pasco County — a Little League regional championship.
Land O’ Lakes went 4-1 at the Southeastern Regional July 27 to 31, improving the squad’s all-star record to 15-1. It is the first time any team from Central Pasco, baseball or softball, has earned a regional Little League crown in the program’s 42-year history.
“It’s like nothing else,” said Land O’ Lakes left fielder Anna Rawls. “Oh my gosh, to win against all those teams in our region; it just so happens that Land O’ Lakes, Florida won the Southeastern Tournament.”
Land O’ Lakes coach Homer Kilfoyl said he knew the girls had the ability from the first practice in June. The squad outscored its opponents 131-41 in the all-star season.
“It was just a matter of how we put them together,” Homer said. “They played against each other during the regular year, but when they came together it was unbelievable. … Some of them had to play different positions from the regular season. They all played where I asked them to, and the way they played together was something to see.”
Homer said playing in a tough District 25 tournament helped prepare the squad to win the Section 4, state and regional titles.
“Some of our toughest competition was right here in the district,” Homer said. “New Tampa was really tough. We had to beat them 1-0 and 3-2 in extra innings. … In all honesty, I don’t think anyone outside of our team thought we’d get out of the districts and get by New Tampa. They had a really good team.”
Land O’ Lakes had less than two days after states before getting on a plane for Virginia. Homer said the girls didn’t have time to think about the magnitude of what was happening.
“They just wanted to go to Virginia,” Homer said. “It’s funny, because they didn’t seem to feel any pressure. It seemed like it was just a fun atmosphere for them. … Me and the other coaches, I felt a lot of pressure to put them in the right spots at the right times. I was trying to make it right for the girls so they all had fun too.”
Homer said the pitching and defense had been solid all year, but the squad’s bats came alive at regionals.
Land O’ Lakes started the final challenge of the season with wins against Alabama and Georgia 9-0 and 10-0, respectively. The victories assured the squad of a spot beyond pool play, but Central Pasco lost its third contest to Virginia 6-2.
The semifinals against West Virginia started sluggishly for Land O’ Lakes, falling behind 4-0 after three innings. The local girls had cut the score to 4-2 when Rawls stepped to the plate in the fifth with runners on first and second.
“I was just thinking this is a big moment,” Rawls said. “The whole team is counting on me. It was one of those do-or-die moments. I was really nervous. I just didn’t want to strike out.”
Facing a full count, Rawls came through with a two-RBI single over the head of the West Virginia shortstop.
Central Pasco had a 9-7 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning. Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl, Homer’s daughter, got the first two outs but walked the third batter. Two wild pitches later gave West Virginia a runner on third base.
Homer went to the mound and told Lexi to calm down and throw a strike. She delivered a fastball on the next pitch, which was grounder back to the mound for the game’s final out.
“I just wanted to put it over the plate to get that last out,” Lexi said. “When I saw it coming back to me I just took my time so I didn’t throw it away. … When I saw the umpire say she was out, I can’t even describe what that feeling was.”
The championship game pitted Land O’ Lakes against Virginia. The contest went into the second inning tied 0-0. Land O’ Lakes didn’t let it remain scoreless for long.
Lexi led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single by Jenna Gabrielli. Rawls stepped to the plate and smacked an RBI single to left field to bring home the game’s first run.
“We were confident,” Rawls said. “The game before we dropped out heads a little bit. In the final game we kept our heads in it. … After coming back from down four runs showed us we can win if we keep our heads up.”
Land O’ Lakes tacked on 10 more runs to win 11-1 in five innings, one short of a full regulation game. As in the semifinals, Lexi recorded the final out on a comebacker to the mound.
Regional championship roster
Vanessa Alexander
Morgan Boudreau
Emily Bowling
Prestine Carter
Kimmie Cheung
Gianna De Grace
Jenna Gabrielli
Lexi Kilfoyl
Bionca Potts
Anna Rawls
Asia Thomas
Callie Turner
Homer Kilfoyl, coach
Dan De Grace, assistant
Darin Kilfoyl, assistant
