Willcox’s dream ride through the district, state and regional tournaments — and an opening-round win of the Little League Softball World Series — came to an end Friday after a 5-2 loss to Asia-Pacific in an elimination-bracket game at East Carolina’s stadium at Greenville, N.C.
Willcox, which was on a 12-0 run through the previous tournaments and first-round win, lost consecutive games to New England (Cranston, R.I.) and Asia-Pacific (Bacolod City, Philippines) in the rain-soaked LLSWS.
Tropical Storm Debby forced three consecutive days of postponements after Willcox’s loss to New England on Monday.
“I am very proud of the girls for the summer they have put in,” mentioned Willcox manager Patrick Macumber, father of ace pitcher Hattie Macumber. “Everyone is so tired from this amazing experience. I love this team, and the memories we have made this summer will forever be a highlight of the things I have been a part of in life.”
The elder Macumber voiced concern earlier in the week about his daughter pitching consecutive games in one day with the schedule altered due to the postponements.
He made the decision to not start Hattie against Asia-Pacific to potentially save her in the next elimination-bracket game Friday against Mid-Atlantic (Greensburg, Pa.). The younger Macumber struck out 15 in Willcox’s 2-1 win over Mid-Atlantic on Sunday, setting a LLSWS-record for most strikeouts in a regulation game of six innings.
Asia-Pacific built a 5-2 lead by the time Hattie entered in relief in with one out in the fourth inning after the team from the Phillipines scored twice. Hattie struck out five and allowed two hits with no walks in 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
The usually reliable Willcox lineup could not muster a sustained rally against Asia-Pacific starter Faith Tamba, who allowed three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Asia-Pacific did not commit an error while Willcox had one that led to two runs.
Neither team produced an extra-base hit among their combined nine hits.
The younger Macumber had two of Willcox’s three hits and had an RBI.
Willcox was the first team from Southern Arizona to advance to the LLSWS since Sunnyside won the championship in 2013. The team from Willcox, a town of a population of about 3,200, captivated all of the state, drawing television news reports all the way in Phoenix.
The All-Star team certainly became stars this summer.
“Thank you to the supportive fans and community,” Patrick Macumber stated.
Mid-Atlantic eliminated Asia-Pacific later Friday with a 2-0 victory. Mid-Atlantic will play New England in the elimination-bracket final Saturday at a time yet to be determined. It will be televised on ESPN2.
The winner will play North Carolina (Winterville, N.C.) in the Purple Bracket final Sunday on ESPN2. The LLSWS championship will follow on ABC. Time to be determined for each of those games.
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