F.A.M.E. team reels in state championship
Tue, 07/24/2007
AUBURN--Irene Cara's hit 1980 pop song "Fame" utterly, to a "T" describes the journey of the Fife-Auburn-Milton-Edgewood senior girls fastpitch all stars team this season.
That's not to mention the last two seasons, which include this season's winning of back-to-back championship games going through the loser's bracket for the F.A.M.E. Fireballs to blaze in glory as state champions of the Washington State Little League Seniors 2007 Tournament at Pacwest Playfield Monday.
"It's a great group of kids," said F.A.M.E. manager Mike Beardsley. "A total team effort. We have a smaller area than most for our program, but our fastpitch is second to none."
The F.A.M.E. team, as this group of 15 and 16 year old players call themselves, beat Cascade -- District 4's Southwest area champion that came from the Vancouver, Wash. area. F.A.M.E. beat them twice. It was 5-0 in the first championship game Monday afternoon and then F.A.M.E. sewed it all up superbly, 10-1, in the "if necessary" nightcap game.
The games were closer than the scores suggested, however. F.A.M.E. was able to be the better of the two.
"They had a couple strong players, and, we're better," said Tess Wagner.
She pitched the complete game shutout in the game one championship to extend the championship to the all-important second game. She also relieved for Allison Beardsley, who did well for four innings for F.A.M.E., allowing one run.
But F.A.M.E.? Just how did this team come up with that crazy, good, creative name?
"Charlie Frampton is the creator of the F.A.M.E. logo," said F.A.M.E. Fireballs manager, Mike Beardsley. Charlie's daughter, Holly, is on this team.
Here are the words to the opening of Cara's hit song from the "Fame" movie:
"Baby look at me
And tell me what you see
You ain't seen the best of me yet
Give me time I'll make you forget the rest."
This F.A.M.E. team finally has shown everyone their best. Not that "the rest" is forgettable for this team. Finishing with high state places the two years prior to this overall title win came for the Fireballs, who are now into fame in Little Leaguedom.
"We were third at state two years ago in Juniors and last year in Seniors we were fifth," said Beardsley. "We have a good core group since nine years of age. Allison Beardsley, Amanda Roselli, Jessica Colburn, Shelly Kilcup, Maloree Langdon, Ryann Waldman and Tess Wagner."
Finishing first is the only way a team can advance to regionals.
"We're going to Montana," said Beardsley.
Is Missoula, Mont. going to be a good place to go?
"It is now," said Sanow. "We're going to win it."
A regional championship earns a second much longer trip.
"Delaware, I think," said Mike Beardsley. "I know it's somewhere back east, that's all I know."
Wagner is part of a conglomerate of Fireball players that have been playing a long time on this team together.
"We all work together and have a little connection," said Wagner.
They've had a successful progression of connections.
"The kids have just progressed," said Beardsley. "They were second at districts as 9-10s (all-stars) and second as Majors."
Then came the firsts at districts three straight times after that and high state showings.
"We have great teamwork, they all are pulling for one another," said Beardsley.
F.A.M.E. players are Candra Azevedo, Allison Beardsley, Jessica Colburn, Holly Frampton, Melisa Guthrie, Shelly Kilcup, Maloree Langdon, Nicole McCaffrey, Shannon Morgan, Amanda Roselli, Danielle Sanow, Natalie Starr, Ryann Waldman, Tess Wagner. Coaches are Mike Kilcup, Kathy Rigney and manager Mike Beardsley.