Rest is a traditional summer haven for students, most of whom find a way to squeeze in as much down time as possible before school cranks back up in August.

The Midway Little League softball system clearly views summer a little differently.

Behind a near fanatical dedication to the sport this summer, Midway’s historically dominant softball feeder system landed all four of its teams in the Texas West State Tournament, which opens today in Fort Worth and features 40 total teams across five boys’ and girls’ age divisions.

That includes Midway’s Junior team of 13/14-year-olds, the 11/12 Little League team, the 10/11 team and the 9/10 team. The Junior softball team will play at Camp Carter softball field, and the other three play at Kelly Park.

Midway didn’t field a senior team, which was the only other softball age group available. Championship games in each bracket are Monday.

“Midway Little League has had a proud tradition of softball,” said 11/12 coach Neil Ling, who said his squad has only taken one day off since June 15. “There have been numerous World Series appearances and numerous titles, so we’re just trying to carry it on and see how far we can take this thing.”

Southern baseball advances

Those teams make up the bulk of the five area teams headed to state in Fort Worth this weekend. The other is the Waco-based Southern Junior baseball squad, which made the state tournament this weekend at Camp Carter.

While softball flourished, area baseball teams endured a rough sectional tournament. The Southern Junior team was the only one of five Waco teams to make it out alive.

The state tournament is one rung in a bigger ladder to the Little League World Series for the 11/12 group and the Junior World Series for both junior teams.

The two younger age groups will end their summer seasons at state this weekend.

Each team plays in a four-team double elimination bracket within its age division, with the winner advancing to the regional tournament.

Playoff road to state

It started with district tournaments two weeks ago and built up through sectionals last weekend. This weekend, state champions will be crowned across the country, followed next week by the geographically broader regional tournaments. From there, winners progress to the World Series.

If the area’s three teams in those two age groups can navigate these final three hazards, they’ll be dubbed World Series champs. It’s a big deal anywhere, but especially so at Midway, where Little League softball has been a traditional rite of summer.

A Midway team last made the Little League World Series two years ago, when this current 11/12 crop was winning a Texas state title. But at that age group, teams can’t progress beyond the state level, something that particular team is eager to do this time around.

Ling has been coaching this current group of girls for four years, some individually for as many as six. They got through district by overcoming a 5-1 deficit to Lake Air with only three outs remaining to triumph, 6-5, and they still haven’t lost in five playoff games.

“They’ve all been battles,” Ling said. “They’ve all been hard-fought games.”

By leaning on pitchers Morgan Ling and Paige Howard, a state title is only considered a stop en route to a World Series ring. They’ll start with a game against the team from Lubbock at 6 p.m. today.

“These girls just give up everything to be successful and work hard, and their goal is Portland, Oregon,” said Neil Ling, referencing the site of the Little League World Series. “Everything is about trying to get there.”

wparchman@wacotrib.com

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