Lewis-Clark Babe Ruth All-Stars headed to 3rd straight softball World Series

Though she no longer walks among its athletes, the influence of Kirsten Phillips has been keenly felt these past weeks by the Lewis-Clark All-Stars 16U softball team, which is set to make its third consecutive appearance at the Babe Ruth World Series.

A former standout catcher on the All-Star roster, Phillips had just helped the Clarkston High softball team win its first-ever district title and make a run to the Washington Class 2A state tournament when she died in a car accident on the highway between Clarkston and Asotin in late May.

Phillips’ old No. 23 jersey hung in the dugout as Lewis-Clark made a three-game sweep to the Idaho state title late last month, topping the host Meridian Select team 20-9 in the final. The All-Stars, who field athletes from Lewiston, Clarkston and the surrounding small towns, plan to continue commemorating her at the World Series in Florence, Ala., on July 23-31.

“They want to carry her jersey out there to be with the umpires before the games,” All-Stars coach Willie Wingfield said.

Stars on the rise

The All-Stars of two years ago were a very young group which “could easily have played 14U,” according to Wingfield — and which went winless at the Series. The team improved dramatically by last year’s national event, where it posted four wins and placed third. Phillips was instrumental to that progress.

“She was one of those kids that showed up every day and had a smile on her face,” Wingfield said. “She worked super hard, she loved to get better, she loved practice (and) she made everybody better. She kept things joking, and just worked super hard.

“She’d be the first one sliding on sliding practices, or whatever you were doing. If somebody made a bad play, she’d stay positive and encourage them. She was just a great leader.”

Veteran vanguard

Lewis-Clark was led at this year’s Babe Ruth state tournament by a core group of returning veterans, including Kamryn Lockart, who batted a dizzying .917 over the three-game run; Georgia Schaefer, who was not far behind at .856; Corrina Scoville, who went .500 and launched a home run in the title round; and Kierra Nielson, who recorded two of the three wins from the circle. All four of those players were members of the All-Stars’ last two World Series rosters.

“I’m excited that we’ve got some 16-year-olds that have been there, got that experience,” Wingfield said. They’re great hitters, and it’s going to be fun to watch them compete.”

Making her second appearance at the Series will be Leilani Koehler, who logged another .500 showing at the plate — as did Rachael Province, described by Wingfield as an “infielder with a great arm.” Also competing for L-C are Addy Aceveda, Elizabeth Alicea, Payten Appleford, Eve Didelius, Tilly Morgan and Victoria Lockart.

Welcoming the challenge

Wingfield expects to “see great competition” once again at the World Series, which has earned its name the past two years with appearances by teams from places like Australia, Canada and Puerto Rico to supplement standout U.S. talent. In spite of the loss of Phillips — and perhaps partly out of the desire to honor her memory — he also has faith that his team can take its place in the mix with that field.

“We’re a great hitting team, and then we play good defense,” Wingfield said. “We don’t have the depth at pitching that we’ve had, but our hitting and our defense can carry us. It should be fun.”

Wendt may be contacted at (208) 848-2268, or cwendt@lmtribune.com.