Little League: Naples Rockets run out of time at Tournament of State Champions

The Naples Rockets fell short in their quest to win the Tournament of State Champions last weekend in Clarksville, Tennessee.

To be more accurate, the youth softball team simply ran out of time.

Naples rallied from a 9-1 loss to a team from Virginia in its second game, advancing to the championship round in the double-elimination tournament in the 9-11 age division.

The Rockets avenged their earlier loss to Virginia – who had entered the finals unbeaten – with an 8-6 victory Sunday. However, Naples had to leave the tournament early due to other obligations back home and couldn’t compete in Monday night’s winner-take-all title game, forfeiting the title to Virginia.

“We were hoping (the tournament directors) could possibly move the second game up to Sunday, but they couldn’t,” Rockets manager Yerye Vargas said. “It’s unfortunate, because the girls really wanted to play. They felt good about their chances (of beating Virginia again).”

Vargas said the 9-1 loss to Virginia was very uncharacteristic of his squad. After all, this was a team that had blitzed through the state competition, winning three games by a combined total of 46-3.

“It was 110 degrees out there (Saturday) and the girls simply didn’t play the way they were capable of playing,” Vargas said. “It was just one of those days where nothing went right for us.”

Overall, the Rockets finished 3-1 in the four-team tournament, beating Tennessee twice and going 1-1 against Virginia. Georgia was the other team in the field, but was eliminated early after losing twice.

The Rockets are two-time defending state champions, also winning the 8-10 age division last year. They competed in the Tournament of State Champions in that division last year, going 1-2.

“Our girls have really matured since last year,” Vargas said. “They’re better players now than they were last year.”

Vargas said the team’s goal of competing in the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon, has always been the goal for these girls.

“This is a special group of girls,” Vargas said. “They’ve shown they can compete with anyone, and with another year under their belts, we feel good about our chances (of going to Oregon). We return most of the same group next year.”