Willcox secures first Little League Softball World Series berth for Southern Arizona since 2013

The last time a team from Southern Arizona advanced to the Little League Softball World Series was in 2013, when Sunnyside came home with a championship.

Members of Willcox’s current team were still toddlers at the time. They hope to ride on the arm of ace Hat Macumber to bring home another title to this area after capturing the Little League West Regional title on Friday night.

Macumber allowed just three hits in her six innings during the 5-0 win over Northern California in San Bernardino, California.

She had two hits and struck out seven, including Northern California’s final batter with runners on second and third.

HATTIE MACUMBER
Willcox pitches to the Little League Softball World Series.
The first team from Southern Arizona to be there since Sunnyside won the LL World Series title in 2013.
Willcox defeated Northern California 5-0 to win the LL West Region title.
Macumber hugs her father… photo.twitter.com/2M0349K5EZ

— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) July 27, 2024

In Willcox’s 4-0 run through the West Regional, Macumber threw complete games in all contests and had three shutouts. She threw a no-hitter against Nevada in a 2-0 win to open regionals last week.

She allowed just 13 hits in 25 innings, with 37 strikeouts and six walks.

“Hattie Macumber, what a rising star; we have to keep that name in mind because we’ll definitely see her again,” ESPN analyst said Natasha Watleya two-time Olympic participant.

Macumber is in the eighth grade and is a talent for class 2029.

Willcox scored all five runs in the first two innings against Northern California, a team it defeated 6-3 in seven innings in the winners’ bracket final on Wednesday.

Jayleen Aguirre and Macumber — Willcox’s battery mates — started the bottom of the first with consecutive singles. After a ground out, both runners advanced, Julie Larson hit a sacrifice fly to right field, enabling Aguirre to drive in the game’s first run.

A single by Daglin Medrano forced Macumber to make it 2-0.

Stephanie Aguilar and scored another run with an RBI single.

ARIZONA CLAIM GREENVILLE’S LAST SPOT

Willcox Little League will have West on its chest during the Little League Softball World Series #LLWS photo.twitter.com/9fchuDVRQR

— Little League (@LittleLeague) July 27, 2024

Willcox started again with consecutive singles (by Aleesa Sanchez And Neveah Reyes) in the second inning.

The next two batters grounded out.

With Sanchez on third and Reyes on second, Aguirre singled to center. Sanchez scored with ease, but Reyes barely beat the throw to home to give Willcox a 5-0 lead.

Reyes was initially tagged out by the home plate umpire, but after review it was ruled that Reyes was safe because the catcher had not applied the tag.

Macumber retired 15 of the first 18 batters she faced before Northern California’s first two batters reached on an error and then a walk in the sixth inning. Macumber got the next three batters out on an infield fly, groundout and strikeout to end the game.

Aguirre was the only player in the game to finish with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.