KIMBALL TWP. — Marty Cook knows the Little League softball team he coaches isn’t a household name.
That’s OK, though, because his group is making a name for itself — and making history in the process.
The Kimball Little League softball team defeated Emmett, 4-1, to win the Michigan District 7 championship on June 25. It was program’s first-ever district crown.
“It’s like nothing we’ve ever done before,” said Easton Hoskins, who’s one of 12 players on the team. “It felt pretty good.”
“I felt really happy,” Elena Simmons said. “I might not play with (these girls) ever again, so I’m really happy (we get to continue on).”
The roster also features Liv Gavlinski, Avery Cobb, Dylan VanNest, Aoife Bruner, Layla Neuhart, Autumn Gardner, Aubri Campbell, Ava Cook, Mackenzie Sedwick and Winter Jensen.
“They’re the first (Kimball softball) team to ever do it,” Marty Cook said of the district title. “So, when they’re older and have kids of their own, and they see that banner on the fence, they can say, ‘I was part of that.’ “
Their part in history is still being written, of course, with the team heading to the 2025 state tournament, which begins Thursday, July 10, in Schoolcraft.
“It feels great,” Gavlinski said. “Because not a lot of people get a chance to do this.”
The significance of a berth in the tournament — along with last month’s district championship — cannot be understated.
“It meant everything for the township,” Marty Cook said. “When I first started coaching here, with my son, 10 years ago, there were no girls divisions at all. There was like three or four girls in the entire league — and they had to play with the boys.
“So, this group of girls was our first pitching-machine, play age, and most of them were 6 or 7 years old … to see them, up close, going from just getting enough kids to play, to actually competing, to winning a district title … literally, I was trying everything in my body not to cry.”
Diana Ward knows the feeling, having spent the past eight seasons as president of Kimball Little League.
“I couldn’t be more happy for the girls,” said Ward, who’s served on the organization’s board since 2011. “This league, I’ve been a part of it for 14 years … (at one point) it was really just dwindling away to nothing … when I joined, I just went and started talking to people. I found people with strengths, asked them to help and everybody just chipped in.
“So, having (these girls) win this title, it’s a real sense of accomplishment (for the entire program). It’s not (about) one coach. It’s not (about) one player. It’s what we’ve all been able to do together.”
Not long after the final out was recorded against Emmett, Kimball’s players and coaches were joined on the field by members of their own community.
“It’s an exciting time for (these kids),” said assistant coach Adam Hoskins, who is also Easton’s dad. “Regardless of the outcome, we’re going to go over there and make some noise — but, definitely, have some fun and make some really good memories.”
The state tournament starts with pool play on Thursday. Kimball will face Hudsonville in the Pool B opener at 6:30 p.m.
“We have the talent to compete,” Marty Cook said. ” When we go there, no one is going to know who Kimball Township is. But after we leave, no matter what happens, everybody is going to know who Kimball is. I can guarantee that … (these girls) are going to put Kimball on the map.”
“I’m looking forward to having fun,” Simmons said. “And representing Kimball.”
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @BrendenWelper.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Kimball Little League softball aims to put itself ‘on the map’ at first state tournament
Reporting by Brenden Welper, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
