Believe it or not, it’s been awhile since a Midway Junior Little League softball team progressed into the regional tournament.

For a little league system with so many district, state and World Series titles over the years, it’s easy to overlook that Midway hadn’t sent a 13- and 14-year-old team even to regionals — let alone a World Series — since 2003.

This years’ Midway Juniors have already checked off the regional hurdle. The World Series is next.

“It’s really a big deal for us,” Midway coach Scott Woodruff said. “We’re the only Midway team left, so we’re kind of carrying the torch.”

In itself, the fact that the Juniors are the last Midway team standing is a point of pride. But if they can’t get beyond the toughest field they’ve seen all year in Midland at the Southwest regional beginning today, those feelings will quickly dissipate.

“It will feel good if we make it this year,” third baseman Jerica Moon said. “It will be like a new start, because I know a lot of people weren’t expecting much out of us, so it will be a real big shocker.”

One of the biggest hurdles for Midway over the years in district has been Lacy Lakeview, which won state last year in this age division. After handling Robinson in its first district game, Midway lost “fair and square” to Lacy Lakeview, Woodruff said, dropping Midway into the consolation bracket.

To win district, Midway needed to beat Lacy Lakeview twice. In one day.

“They were some super exciting games,” Woodruff said.

Indeed, Midway needed nine innings and a walkoff RBI single from Destiny Davis to win, 2-1, in the opener, and then won a 5-3 decision in the do-or-die finale to advance to sectionals.

Midway went on to sweep sectionals and state, barely breaking a sweat in the process.

“That’s when the upswing started,” Woodruff said. “They were really excited they could win that tournament.”

Midway is bolstered by three players — Moon, Alexia Rowe and Callee Guffey — who played in the 2008 Little League Softball World Series, the last time any Midway team made an apperance on the sport’s highest stage. The team didn’t fare so well there that year, fueling their desire for another shot at a national title.

The fact that the Midway Juniors never felt like the team to beat is yet another motivating factor.

“It made us want it more when people look down on you,” Moon said. “It makes you want it more. That way you can prove it to them.”

Woodruff is quick to point to the team’s work ethic as a reason for its success. Some days, the girls even initiate practice themselves.

“They’re very excited,” Woodruff said. “They’re very much upbeat as you’d expect. One of the things that’s unusual about these girls is they really love to practice. They crave the practices. I guess when you’re having success it just goes along with it. Their work ethic is why we’re so good.”

It could also have to do with the team’s deep pitching staff. With Guffey and Rowe controlling things from the circle, opposing run totals have hovered around zero, even against teams like Lacy Lakeview.

“We really set our sights high once we got out of district,” Woodruff said. “(The World Series) is our goal. We think we’ve got the talent to get there. We’ve got to play some other good teams, but these girls have really gelled as a team and they just really play well together.”

wparchman@wacotrib.com

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