The Suwannee Stars 12 and under girls fast pitch softball team started the fall season out with a bang by placing second in the Slider Slugfest held in Lake City Sept. 30-Oct. 1. The Stars won every game until the championship game only to suffer a 10 – 3 loss to the Jacksonville Players, a team they had previously beaten in the tournament. It was a heart-breaking loss for the girls but they should be proud of what they accomplished.

The Stars were led by the strong hitting of Stacey McClelland (.643 avg., one triple, one home run and six RBI), Brittany Shearer (.500 avg., two triples and four RBI), Tinsley Smith (.467 avg., nine runs, two doubles, one triple and one home run) and Megan Oleson (.467 avg., two triples and three doubles). Jessie TenBroeck, Nicole Roper and Keirston Howell were also credited with triples. At one point, the Stars, behind the excellent pitching of McClelland, Smith and a solid defense, allowed only five runs in a five game stretch.

The girls have worked hard to be where they are now, competing for their first tournament win. They have placed second in their last two tournaments. Look for this team to come out on top soon.