The Zephyrhills Little League Majors 12U girls softball team capped off an impressive weekend in the Florida State Tournament, held Friday and Saturday at Land O’ Lakes. The young squad clinched a hard earned fifth place finish after battling through a tough field of competitors.
Their journey to the state stage began with stirring victories at the District 13 championship, where they claimed the title and earned a spot in the Section 4 tournament. They maintained momentum, conquering Section 4 to punch their ticket to the state tournament.
In other ZLL action Saturday, the Zephyrhills Majors 12U Baseball team battled in the Section 4 Tournament in Safety Harbor and the 9-11 Baseball team clashed at Land O’ Lakes in their respective Section 4 Tournament. Although both teams didn’t claim berths to the state tournaments, both teams helped Zephyrhills Little League make history by claiming district titles last month.
At the State Tournament (10 12 softball), the girls faced some of Florida’s best. After their first game Friday, they continued pool play Saturday that would determine final standings. Though they didn’t reach the championship game, the Zephyrhills squad rallied on Saturday, delivering strong performances and securing a key win that propelled them to a respectable fifth-place finish.
Coach Chris Matthews’ team showed grit all weekend and their performance exemplified the heart and spirit of Zephyrhills softball.
Highlights included:
• District 13 Championship — Dominant play throughout the tournament, clinching the title.
• Section 4 Victory — A decisive win securing their place at state.
• State Tournament — Two competitive days in Land O’ Lakes, culminating in a top five finish among the state’s elite 12U teams.
Parents and supporters flooded the stands in Land O’ Lakes, cheering on every hit, catch, and run. Despite missing the state title, the team leaves with heads held high, proud of their accomplishments and the experience gained.
Final placement at the Florida 10 12 State Softball Tournament (Land O’ Lakes, July 11–13):
1. Lake Mary
2. Keystone
3. Windemere
4. Martin County
5. Zephyrhills Little League
6. DFS/Pax
7. Estates
Zephyrhills Little League still has another team remaining in a quest for a state championship as the ZLL Minor 10U Girls Softball Team will play in the their state tournament Friday, July 18-20 at Palm Coast Little League.
Congratulations to this outstanding group of young athletes on a memorable run and a bright future ahead.