Stockton’s Balthazor and Creighton on state champion softball team
Finish the season undefeated
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THE 2023 K-18 STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS, THE PLAINVILLE CARDINALS, earned medals, plaques and trophies for their efforts on the diamond at the recent state tournament held in Lucas.Team members are front row, from left: Kaeleigh Klein, Trinity Arpin, Morgan Stahl, Jolyn Johnson, Brylee Horting and Calliegh Witt; and back row, from left: Coach Ryan Weltmer, Jayana Creighton, Aaliyah Becker, Lillian Garcia, Emma Fuzzell, Rylan Weltmer, Baileigh Balthazor, and Coach Trent Fuzzell. (Courtesy Photo)
The Plainville Cardinals K-18 Softball Team capped off a very successful season by winning the 4th annual K-18 Softball State Tournament held the weekend of July 15 and 16 in Lucas.
The top-seeded Cardinals downed Osborne 11-10 in the quarterfinals, defeated Scott City in the semifinals 11-3, and again faced Scott City in the tournament finals, cruising to a 9-1 victory to capture the championship. The five teams who competed in the tourney were: 1. Plainville; 2. Scott City; 3. Norton/Phillipsburg; 4. Osborne; and 5. Oakley.
Because Stockton didn’t have enough players (13-18 years old) to field a K-18 team, Baileigh Balthazor and Jayana Creighton joined the Cardinals’ team this summer, and were instrumental in Plainville’s undefeated season.
Balthazor, a talented pitcher, was on the mound every inning of every game throughout the season and tournament. Creighton, who pitched on the JV team which suffered just one loss, played in right field during the season, and was designated as a pinch runner during the state tourney.
Along with Balthazor and Creighton, members of the team include: Trinity Arpin, Aaliyah Becker, Emma Fuzzell, Lillian Garcia, Brylee Horting, Jolyn Johnson, Kaeleigh Klein, Morgan Stahl, Rylan Weltmer, and Calliegh Witt. Coaches are Trent Fuzzell and Ryan Weltmer.
