Softball: Sterling girls win state title

July 30--The Sterling 9-10 Softball All-Star team finished off a memorable postseason run in style on Tuesday night.

Led by dominating pitcher Amayia Hernandez, Sterling captured the 9-10 Little League State Tournament title after a 5-0 victory against Evergreen Park at Reed Park in Freeport.

Sterling outscored three opponents by a combined score of 30-0 in the state tourney. Hernandez went all six innings on Tuesday, and came within one walk and one error of tossing a perfect game. She didn't allow a hit, and posted 13 strikeouts.

"The girls have been putting up some big offensive numbers," head coach Roy Garcia said, "but Amayia has been something special."

Sterling got on the board in the first inning on a base hit and stolen base by Riley Dittmar, and a single by Breelyn Borum.

A two-run triple by Sierra Allen highlighted a three-run third inning for Sterling. Hannah Jacoby added an RBI single.

A pair of walks and an RBI single by Hernandez allowed Sterling to score an insurance run in the fifth inning.

Garcia does not have a daughter on the team, as his own softball-playing child, Alecia, is only 8. He did, however, coach many of the girls in the regular season, and when the All-Stars needed a volunteer coach for the playoffs, he stepped up -- and he's glad he did.

"The girls have a true love for the game," Garcia said. "They showed up for every practice, ready to play the game the right way, and they made it very enjoyable for me. It was just a great experience for all involved."

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