By Christina Trimble
The days of summer are not about pool parties and barbecues for this Saline County 12 and under girls fast pitch team. It’s all about going to the USFA World Series in Panama City Beach, Fla. in July.
When it comes to this group of girls the Saline County rivalries are put aside. Vertigo is a team comprised of girls from Bryant, Benton and Haskell. They are the up and coming talent in Saline County. Vertigo has been playing together since March. They must be doing something right, they have placed in several tournaments this year including: 1st place – Arkansas Pepsi Junior Olympic Classic and the 3rd leg of the USSSA Triple Diamond, 3rd place in Burns Park Spring Fling (played in 14U division as a 12U team), and 5th and 7th place in two South Central US regional tournaments in Kilgore, Texas and Shreveport, La. (more than 25 teams in each regional tournament). The second place they received at the Central Arkansas NIT tournament earned them a spot in the USFA World Series.[more]
Vertigo is currently ranked first in the state, according to arkansassoftball.org. The girls are slated to play in three state tournaments over the next four weeks.
Success of this team is a group effort; they play as a cohesive unit. On the mound they have three great pitchers Stevi Berg, Rachel McCallister, and Kayla Jolley and when a batter does hit off one of these pitchers everyone on the field plays great defense. Vertigo can also put the ball in play with their hitting, to put runs on the board.
Coach Danny Muilenburg said “every girl on this team is a key player. They all have great attributes to offer. I could go on and on about each player of this team, but it’s the chemistry of this team that is Vertigo’s greatest attribute.”
Muilenburg went on to say “This group of girls works hard and is dedicated.”
Vertigo is currently practicing everyday in preparation for the three State tournaments and the USFA World Series.
Along with Berg, McCallister and Jolley, team members include Bailey Carter, Ashton Currey, Kati Daley, Samantha Davis, Holly Drombetta, Taylor “TO” Oglesby and Courtnie Shultz.
Susan Gray
WTG Girls!!! I am so proud of the outstanding job these girls are doing on the softball field!! I know they will do a great job in Florida!!!! Guess Coach Muilenburg is keeping them focused and working their tails off — it definitely shows in the state ranking. GO VERTIGO!!!!
~~ A Mississippi Fan