Scotts Valley Trouble 8U fastpitch softball team capped off the summer tournament season in winning fashion by capturing back-to-back championships including the Pajaro Valley Strawberry Jam title on July 30.
Harper Swartz and LaVinnia Restivo had a combined 15 strikeouts over six innings in a 3-1 win in extra innings over the San Jose Sparks en route to their second first place trophy in one month.
“The incredible season culminated on the last day of the season at Pajaro’s Strawberry Jam Tournament with spectacular pitching performances propelling the team to their second Championship berth,” said Trouble manager Laiya Pamela Restivo.
Swartz finished with eight strikeouts, while LaVinnia Restivo fanned seven batters in the championship game.
The youngsters also won the Eric Padgett and Bob Midgley Strikeout Cancer Memorial Tournament in Sonoma on July 23. They placed in all five of the USA Softball tournaments they entered including second at Jan Macpherson Memorial in San Carlos, third at Battle of the Bay in Millbrae and second at Blast by the Bay in Soquel.
Trouble is comprised of girls ranging from 7 to 9 years old, many of whom had never played softball with a catcher before. Restivo had plenty of help from assistant coaches Jim Conner and Brett Swartz, who taught the newbies the fundamentals of the sport.
“Some girls couldn’t even catch well or throw properly at the start of practices for the season,” Restivo said.
However, the players practiced up to three times a week in addition to whatever training they did on their own, Restivo said.
Other players on the roster include Olivia Simmons, Emma Lee, Jocelyn Conner, Alex Shippee, Mya Rapolla, Taylor Mace, Rylan Rossignol, Vivian Sklar, Ella Blasius, Allie Pao and Penelope Castillo.
Developmental players who attended practices and scrimmages but were not tournament participants were Randie Byrd, Lucy Steele, Kate Steele and Ava Adams.
Trouble finished with a 6-0-2 overall record in scrimmage games against Pajaro Tremblers, Cabrillo Crushers, SLV Mountain Dream, Los Gatos Magic and Branham Hill Thunder.
I hit the most homers, and I was named MVP for this trouble season. Also, my dad Jim Conner said. “Some girls couldn’t even catch well or throw properly at the start of practices for the season,”