The Silverada Little League program of Dayton is realizing unprecendented success on the state level.
Silverada had never won a state title before, but has already won one this week and is on the verge of winning another. Silverada's 11-12-year-old all-star softball team won the state title in Dayton on Tuesday by routing Lone Mountain of Southern Nevada 15-5.
The state title was made sweeter by the fact that the same nucleus of girls fell just short of a state title as 9-10-year-olds. Silverada advanced to the double elimination division tournament against the Utah and Arizona champions. Silverada will open with the Utah champion a week from today in Arizona.
The winner of that tournament will advance to the Western Regional to be held in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Meanwhile, Silverada's 9-10-year-old softball team is one win away from winning the state title after a 15-2 win over Silverado on Tuesday. Silverada will play the winner between Silveradon and Lone Mountain at 5 p.m. Thursday at Dayton's Little League fields.
The Silverada 11-12-year-old boys all-star team will also play in the state tournament after winning its district event. Silverada will open with Washoe on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Silverada swept Lone Mountain, winning 16-4 and 15-5, for the state title. Danelle Freitas was the winning pitcher in the 16-4 victory and also had the game-winning hit in the 15-5 win as the game was called by the 10-run rule.
Brittany Burrows was the winning pitcher and also had a strong offensive game. Kara Mayer added a key two-run double.
"I'm incredibly proud of them," manager Dennis Freitas said. "We had girls com through from the bottom to the top."
Silverada advanced to state by going 3-0 in the district tournament.
Silverada opened with a 16-4 win over Lincoln County as Freitas was the winning pitcher. Freitas then came through with a game-winning two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Silverada an 8-7 win over Elko. Burrows was the winning pitcher, striking out 11.
Silverada beat Elko again, 9-3, for the title as Alicia Merrell dominated, striking out 16 for the win.
"Strong pitching and solid hitting is what did it for us the whole way through," coach Mike Burrows said.
Other members on the team are Kassandra Hoopes, Christina Kristian, Kara Mayer, Kaela Riddle, Matia Spencer, Lindsie Cross, Brittany Curtis and Brittany Hall.
For the 9-10-year-old girls, Kenzie Cole continued her dominant pitching, striking out nine in the four-inning game. Cole has struck out 31 through 12 innings in district and state play.
Against Lone Mountain, Tatum Reedy was 3-for-3 with four runs, Krissie Hoopes was 4-for-4 with two runs and Jesse Riddle went 2-for-3.
"The team hit the ball extremely hard," coach Rob Reedy said. "Pitching and defense were awesome."
In the district tournament, Silverada beat White Pine 19-2 as Cole struck out 10 in four innings. Silverada then beat Winnemucca 19-2 in four innings as Reedy struck out seven. Lexy Baldassaree had a key hit to break the game open.
Cole pitched a no-hitter in the finals, striking out 12 in four innings as Silverada beat Elko 14-0.
Victoria Sheehan, Reedy, Cole and Hoopes combined to score 11 runs. "We just hit the ball hard and dominated," coach Reedy said.
Rounding out the team are Brittany Howe, Jamie Darragh, Shannon Chapman, Krystal Rasberry, Courtney Farnsworth
The 11-12-year-old boys went 5-0 at district. They opened with an 11-2 win over Elko. Cory Yoder was the winning pitcher and Marty Osborn hit a two-run homer.
Silverada followed with an 8-7 win over Ruby Mountain. Ryan Mathes came through with the game-winning hit with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and Osborn belted a three-run shot. Kyle Martensen was the winning pitcher.
Shawn Starks hit a three-run homer and Mitchell Gilgert was the winning pitcher in Silverada's 9-5 win over Fernley. Winning pitcher Lucas Gomez and Yoder combined on a shutout in a 3-0 win over South Lyon County. Jimmy Doyle and Gomez each doubled and Yoder stole home to score a run.
In the finals, Yoder pitched a complete game as Silverada beat Elko 6-3.
Other members of the team are Caleb Reedy, Ryan Barkdull, Matt Parmenter and Cole Hornback.
In the past, Silverada has traditionally been outmanned in the state tournament. But Silverada manager Sandy Martensen said he believes this year's team can be competitive, noting that some of his players played on a traveling team that beat the Washoe Zephyrs.
"We don't see any problem," Martensen said. "Of course we've got to be on our ball game. It looks like we'll do O.K., I think."