Montana team playing in World Series
Those who follow high school softball may have been tracking coverage of an area all-star softball squad that goes by the unusual name of Zootown.
Last summer this Missoula-based softball team mashed their way through the competition into the Senior League Softball World Series championship title tilt, where they would eventually place second. That would have been more than a satisfactory showing for most players in a lifetime, but when Zootown reconvened this summer, most of the girls embarked upon their schedule as if on a mission with a sense of unfinished business. One premier goal was to make it back to the championship round.
The team is mostly comprised of AA high school age players leavened with an additional quartet from the Class B-C as well as Class A talent pool. Many of these players annually frequent Polson for the SPLASH softball tournament infusing the rosters of an assortment of summer ASA teams. The Zootown roster itself is comprised of seven Big Sky Lady Eagles (Kaylee Rosenbaum, Macey Newbary, Kendall Rauk, Frankie Schwenk, Quincy Preston, Jaime Schafer, Natalie Schwab), a trio of Hellgate Lady Knights (Sierrah Hardy, Adessa Gagner, Callie McKillop), Sentinel Lady Spartan Taylor Holmes, a trio of Loyola Breakers (Hannah Hirning, Josie Haran, Molly Miltko), and Frenchtown Lady Bronc Megan Delaney.
Many readers may have glossed over coverage because of the perception that their roster lacks local players to pique their interest. But while none hail from the immediate environs of the Mission Valley, there are far more connections than would appear on the surface.
Perhaps one of the more familiar surnames on the Zootown roster would be that of Meggie Delaney of Frenchtown, who happens to be an extended cousin to Delaney’s Nursery owners Wes and Twila Delaney as well as former ranchers Wayne and Linda Delaney, more contemporary cousin to Michael, Tyler, Stephen Delaney, Dillon, Dalton, Nate Delaney of Charlo and niece to Tim Delaney of Polson. Standout pitcher Macey Newbary has extended family in the area, her exploits around the softball diamond followed closely because she would be their niece.
A pair of other players have second-generation roots to the Mission Valley area. Both parents of Sierrah Hardy graduated from Charlo, while Taylor Holmes is the daughter of a Ronan graduate. Both players have up and coming siblings whose names will likely be making print once they hit the high school ranks.
Zootown recently swept their way through Western Regional competition, posting a pristine mark in pool play that they extended through the competitive round. The repeat at the West Regional punched their ticket for a return trip to the Senior League Softball World Series held in Roxana, Delaware.
Zootown is sitting on good shape thus far, having compiled a 3-0 record in World Series seeding play with one game remaining before the placement rounds commence. A finish among the top two in their pool will keep them in the running for hardware and a chance to top their second place finish last season.
Senior League Softball World Series
August 2-8
Zootown 7
Europe/Africa 2
Zootown took a 1-0 lead after the first over the team from Prague, Czech Republic. Meggie Delaney was doubled home by Quincy Preston to extend the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second. Taylor Holmes drove in a run to extend the lead to 4-1. Sierrah Hardy had two hits that included an extra base double.
Zootown 16
Canada 0
Zootown scored a trio of runs in the first inning for all the run support they would need against the team from Victoria, BC. An 11 run outburst in the third inning provided all the insurance they would need.. Taylor Homes knocked in four RBIs by smacking a double as well as a triple along with drawing and a walk. Macey Newbary was on the base path after each of her trips to the plate, going 2-2 with a pair of walks, reaching on an error and a fielder‘s choice. Sierrah Hardy drew a walk and was brought home to score a run.
Sunday August 2
Zootown 11
Central USA 1
Macey Newbary hit 2 home runs in her trio of at-bats for 3 RBIs and Taylor Holmes hit another along with a double for another trio of RBIs as Zootown downed the team from Escanaba, Michigan. Newbary launched a solo shot to put the West up 1-0. Holmes went yard for a pair of RBIs to move the score to 8-0.
Newbary’s second shot scored another pair to move the score to 10-0. A walk-off double by Holmes scored the final run that ended the game in the sixth on account of the ten run rule. Sierrah Hardy brought in a pair of RBIs on a hit and also walked. Newbary fanned 11 batters while surrendering just a trio of hits. Meggie Delaney came in as a pinch runner for Newbary and scored.
Senior League Softball
West Regional
July 24-28, 2015
Missoula
Zootown 9, Hawaii 0 championship
Zootown 9, Oregon 0 semi
Zootown 14, Washington 0
Zootown 8, Montana 4
Zootown 4, Hawaii 1
Zootown 17, Arizona 0
Zootown 8, No.Cal 1
Zootown 6, So.Cal 1
Zootown 3, Oregon 2
The progress of Zootown can be followed at the following links: http://seniorsoftballws.org/schedule.asp and http://www.llbws.org/llbbws/slsbws/west.htm.