Washington County Enterprise-Leader
STATE CHAMPS NWA Softball Team Wins State Title
FARMINGTON — The Crush Elite, a Northwest Arkansas team based out of Farmington, won the ASA (Amateur Softball Association of America) 18u/16u state championship on June 23 at Maumelle.
By virtue of the championship, the Crush earned a berth in the ASA national championship at Salem Virginia from July 29-Aug. 4.
“To be able to
take those kids and compete for a national championship it’s something that just a small group of people ever get to do. It’s really something for those kids,” said John Sisemore, Crush head coach.
The win has John Sisemore on cloud nine. He was reliving hi-lights of the state championship games last week noting key plays. John Sisemore praised Madison Cluck, who will be a senior at Prairie Grove this fall, on making a
diving catch in the outfield to save a win in the semifinal game. Cluck is looking forward to the national tournament.
“It’s extremely exciting. I would never have in a million years thought I would get this chance. It’s a once in a lifetime thing and I get to go to it. It’s pretty special. I owe that to not just myself. A lot of my family they push me and my coaches they told me I had a talent and I try to pursue it. It’s really paid off and hopefully it continues to pay off in greater things.”
John Sisemore credited Kelbie Brown (Prairie Grove 2013) with making several good outfield catches to get the Crush to finals and said Payton Wiedner (Farmington 2013) made many unbelievable plays at third including a diving catch and throw and had a couple of timely hits to help the Crush win the state crown.
“Everyone’s goal is always to get to the biggest and best thing,” Wiedner said. “We all tried our best to get to where we knew we should be. Hopefully, we can go there and do just as good as we did last weekend.”
John Sisemore said one of his recruits at Ecclesia College, Jessica Foster (Farmington 2013), had a couple of clutch hits to help after playing only 10 games in her senior year due to a broken foot.
“Jess just came off of a high school season-ending injury and it’s great to see her on field again.”
“She’s back on the field finally, we didn’t think that was ever going to happen,” said Brenda Foster, Jessica’s mother.
“I’m feeling better, it feels weak cause I lost so much muscle. Other than that I feel fine, I just have to build my muscle back up,” Jessica Foster said. “It feels amazing. It’s been a long time. Being out that long has affected my stats, but I feel like it will make me work harder to get back to where I was. It’s a win-win to me.”
John Sisemore said his daughter, Oakley (Farmington 2014), made a great catch at the outfield fence in the semifinals to help defensively and led the team offensively, going 9 for 13 at the plate with 4 stolen bases.
Oakley said she went into the state tournament with high expectations.
“I was planning to win it, hopefully, I thought we could win it and we did — so we could qualify for nationals in Virginia.”
John Sisemore said the crush team has now won every major tournament over the years that Arkansas has offered including winning the pitch for the cure and Fayro in 2012 but he can scarcely contain his joy over the opportunity which lies before them.
“To go and compete for a national championship now is something most people never get to do and is a big honor and the pinnacle of what this team has dreamed of.”
“I don’t think there were any tears of joy, we just play the game,” Brown said, expressing eager anticipation of the trip to Virginia for the national tournament.
“I’ve never been far out of the state. To go and play in front of a bunch of college coaches. It’s what we’ve all wanted on the team.”