Winnemucca Gold Rush softball took four teams to the Northern Sierra Fastpitch Association (NSFA) State Championships in Reno on July 19-21, where three of the teams returned with the winning trophy and one team fought hard for a bronze medal.
The 8U, 12U, and 14U squads all grabbed gold at the four field tournament between 20 teams, and the 10U squad played seven games on their way to their third-place finish.
The 8U Gold Rushers went 4-0 on the weekend, 12U tallied a 5-0 record, and the 14U squad was also undefeated.
Chris Entwistle is the President of the Board of the Winnemucca Gold Rush Travel Softball Program and also coaches the 10U squad. Entwistle commented on the Gold Rush performances at state saying.
“We took three out of four divisions with four new board members this year and we started the 14U team from scratch and we won that in our first season. It speaks volumes about what Winnemucca is doing to develop softball early. We played against teams from Susanville, Calif., Carson City, Reno, and Fallon.”
The 8U squad is 20-0 on the season and will be competing in Carson City on August 2-4 along with the 12U and 14U teams in the All-World Championships.
“One of the keys to success is starting when you are young, and two of the girls on the 8U team started when they were five-years old," Entwistle said. "I want to thank the WCVA, the city, and the county; everybody stands up to contribute. We have a lot of community support.”
Acording to Enwistle, he said the 10U had struggles at times but still proud.
“Our 10U team has had some struggles this year," he said. "So I told the girls that this was their last opportunity to show yourself and your family where you have come from, there to now, and leave it all on the field with no regrets. Win or lose, play your best and have fun.”
