Cleburne will have representation in the USSSA World Series in Orlando next week when 10-year-old Macie Strickland and her father, Jeff, head to the tournament with the Fort Worth Batbusters Woodall select league softball team.
The squad, which is 63-9, has been in five championship games this season and has walked away with four trophies in those tournaments.
The opening ceremonies for the tournament are Sunday and the games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports park.
Jeff said this is an experience he won’t soon forget.
“She started out in rec league ball,” he said of Macie. “It’s turned into something special. She’s one of our best hitters ... and she’s been batting around .350 this season.
“She’s always been a good base runner and she’s the catcher we go to when the game is on the line.”
Macie plays third base along with seeing time behind the plate.
“It’s been very rewarding,” she said of this season. “It’s also exciting because we’ve won a lot.
“[At the tournament] I’m going to be both excited and nervous.”
The team has been playing since January, but experiencing both the cold and hot seasons of Texas has been worth it, Macie said.
“I play tough through it because I love to play softball,” she said. “Winning the tournament would be awesome and something very special.”
According to the power rankings of teams in the 10UA division, the Batbusters are ranked No. 3 heading into the competition.
Macie and Jeff leave on Friday to join their team in Orlando.
The championship game of the tournament will be on July 30. Pool play begins on Sunday. More than 40 teams from across the country and from Puerto Rico will also be at the competition.
“We’ve peaked, lately,” Jeff said. “We won the Oklahoma USSSA tournament title, the North Texas USSSA championship in Longview and the Fort Worth Metro tournament.”
The Batbusters’ latest tournament victory came in the Sunscreen Social in The Colony where they outscored their opposition 62-1.
Three other teams out of the 44 participating are from Texas. The two teams ranked above the Batbusters are from Florida and Michigan.
Baseball and Softball
Related Photos
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The Fort Worth Batbusters Woodall select league fastpitch softball team is heading to Orlanda for the USSSA World Series. Courtesy photo/Hillary Boles
![IMG_5826[1].JPG](http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x202400402/g0a000000000000000065cbfe8484a8861b4398ed959a89145615af40b2.jpg "IMG_5826[1].JPG")
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Cleburne’s Macie Strickland takes a cut during a game earlier this season with the Fort Worth Batbusters Woodall select team. Macie and her teammates are heading to Orlando to participate in the USSSA Fastpitch World Series. Courtesy photo/Jana Simpson
Discussion
World Series bound
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