West Point softball headed to Little League World Series

West Point 12U coach Tina (Skelly) Madison pitched in the 1995 Little League World Series. Now she is going to coach her team there.

West Point won the Mid-Atlantic Regional on Friday at Bristol, Conn., by defeating Massapequa, N.Y., the reigning World Series champions, 5-1.

Now the team heads to Greenville, N.C., for the World Series, which begins Aug. 4.

It was the second time this week West Point had defeated the New York state champions after winning Monday, 6-0.

“Our goal was to make regionals,” Madison said. “Anything more would be a plus.

“The girls played very well, and our defense was tremendous. The New York coach was amazed with our defense.”

West Point grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Morgan Maiers singled, swiped second and moved to third on a single. She scored on Lexi Stabile’s ground out.

Both teams had runners on third base in the first inning but didn’t score.

West Point’s Jayelyn Luft doubled to open the game and got to third. But she was doubled off.

Massapequa got a runner to third with one out, but West Point third baseman Peyton Reamer nailed the runner at the plate trying to score on a bunt.

“Peyton made a good play, and she had a key hit,” Madison said. “They all played well.”

West Point made it 2-0 in the third inning when Reamer tripled and scored on Mia Graft’s safety squeeze bunt.

West Point scored three unearned runs in the fourth inning when Rian Starz singled home Piper Hoppel to make it 3-0, and Stabile crushed a two-run double to make it 5-0.

Massapequa broke through for a run in the bottom of the fourth inning by taking advantage of two walks. It was the first run West Point allowed in the tournament.

But Massapequa ran itself out of a big inning when West Point picked off an aggressive runner at second.

Stabile allowed four hits and four walks and struck out seven.

Snyder County 11, West Point 1 — The West Point 11U team dropped an opening-round game in the Pennsylvania Little League softball state tournament at Fairchance.

West Point next faces Radnor-Wayne, which lost to Carbino Club, 15-0.

North Lebanon 10, West Point 6 — The West Point 12U boys were knocked out of the Pennsylvania State Little League tournament at Newville, falling in eight innings.

Nicholas Hisman smacked a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score. Hisman had four RBIs.

Gavin Braden hit a two-run homer.

Chris Volk threw well for West Point. Braden struck out seven.

Ryland Walker had two hits.