Last weekend the Lopez Island Girls Softball team (ages 10-14) attended their first interisland tournament and took home first place. They beat two teams from San Juan Island and the Orcas Island team to go undefeated in three games.

The girls played very well and were able to win a few very close games, even coming from behind in the last inning of the third game to win.

The Lopez Island girls softball program was resurrected four years ago and has now become one of the islands’ premier spring sports teams.

“The girls had a great season. After losing their first three games, they went on to win 11 straight including the tournament. It was so fun to see them grow and develop as a team this year. They are great sportsmen, great girls and gracious winners. I was lucky to be able to be their coach,” said Chris Riddell.

The success of this youth program has now started a new conversation for Lopez Island in the formation of a high school level softball program.

“Although the girls had a wonderful season, the problem is that a whole group of these girls who have played together for the last four years may have played their last softball game on Lopez if we can’t figure out a way to get something started on the high school level,” Riddell said.

Zoe Reinmuth, Quinn and Siri Dye, Hailey Riddell and Grace Zoerb are all in the position that girls from the three previous years have been in when they “age out” of the youth league offerings. The option for these girls has been to either stop playing or to transition to boys baseball.

Fortunately for the girls there is a groundswell of support from parents, local businesses and some of the older high school girls.

“Our girls did great this year. We are really excited that there is this movement to try to get a team where they can continue to grow and play here on Lopez,” said Carolyn Zoerb, mother of two of this year’s players.

“We recognize that the school is going through a lot of financial issues right now and that sports are being cut to fund the academic side of the school. We know that this puts the funding burden on the team and on those in the community who want to support it. We also realize that Islands Baseball, the organization that funds and manages all levels of baseball and softball currently on the island, is not in a position to simply fund another team. They have a great program that supported over 80 kids this year, and we don’t want to do anything that would jeopardize their ability to offer these programs to younger generations. We know that it will take hard work, and the girls are excited to take this project on,” Riddell responded when asked about how this new team may be funded.

It has yet to be seen if this new venture will be a Lopez Island School team or if it will be a community club team that competes on the high school level. Both options are on the table currently, and it will depend on whether the school is interested in another team added to their roster and the costs associated with being under the school’s umbrella.

The future looks bright for girls softball on Lopez Island both for the youth program and the high school level. Sports have played an important role in many islanders’ lives; they teach important lessons that last long after the seasons end and the athletes move on to the rest of their lives. For this group of girls, this season will definitely be one to remember.