Olin young girls softball team takes Mt. Vernon in second game of the season

Submitted by Leslie Buscher/Community contributor

We don't hear much news about the young ball players who will someday be high school team members.

Tonight the 3rd and 4th grade girls from Olin, in their second game of the season, beat the Mount Vernon Dynamites 2-0. They weren't feeling encouraged after losing their first game but already there was a noted improvement in the way they hit the ball and stayed more focused on being a team.

Girls this age are just getting past that awkward age and starting to show signs of the more graceful and athletic young women they will be in a few years. The Lion's starting pitcher, Kacey Ginn, is already following in her older sister Makenzie's footsteps as a talented ballplayer.

Makenzie graduated last week and is playing softball for Olin, as well as refereeing for her sister's team. Their mother Karen is the stat keeper for the team.

One parent, Brandon Reyes, couldn't have been prouder when all of the practice paid off and his daughter Kalista hit a double in the last inning. More importantly, Kalista has renewed interest in practicing and becoming an even better hitter.

The Olin sports teams have had some problem filling teams due to fewer kids at the high school level in the last few years but these little girls are learning valuable skills and sportsmanship and will do great no matter where they play in the future.