Pennsville LL leaves for Senior Softball World Series Saturday, plays last year’s runner-up and host in Monday opener
SENIOR SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES
Lower Sussex LL Complex, Roxana, Del.
Monday’s games
Lower Sussex vs. Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Canada vs. Southeast, 6 p.m.
Central vs. West, 8 p.m.
Latin America vs. Southwest, 8 p.m.
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
One of the first things Bella Rappa did when the Pennsville Senior Softball All-Stars got back to town after winning the regional in Massachusetts was run out and buy a big new suitcase.
After all, when you’re going to the World Series you don’t want to leave anything behind.
Rappa and the Eagles head off to the Little League Senior Softball World Series in Roxana, Del., Saturday morning. It’s potentially a nine-day trip, so there’s a lot of luggage.
“I tend to overpack because I’m very afraid I’m not going to have enough,” the Pennsville first baseman said.
And it’s not just the big purple bag that’s “half my size” for clothes – and the new T-shirts and socks she bought. There’s a personal bag. And, of course, her softball gear. And a tote for the glitter. Lots of glitter.
It’s not quite enough to match Paris Hilton’s entourage in that hotel commercial, but it might put the bellboy on alert.
“I don’t pack that much,” she said. “Out of everybody on the team I’m the one who always overpacks. Oh my God, you bring so many clothes. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
“I didn’t take as much (to the regional) because I kind of knew what to expect. But going down to Delaware, I don’t know what’s going to happen. The majority of my closet is packed in that suitcase.”
One good thing about a big bag is there’s plenty of room for a trophy. The Eagles are planning on success, but their road isn’t easy. Their pool includes both of last year’s finalists – Lower Sussex and defending champion Little River-Academy, Texas District 9 – plus the Negros Occidental LL of Bacolod City, Philippines, and the Yankees Family Group LL of Guanica, Puerto Rico.
They’ll play all four teams in hopes of getting to the knockout round. They’ll play Lower Sussex at 6 p.m. Monday and The Philippines Tuesday at 8, then wrap up pool play with Texas (5:30 p.m.) and Puerto Rico (8 p.m.) Thursday to determine if they advance. Their scheduled off day Wednesday is Rappa’s 17th birthday.
It’s not just some ceremonial host Pennsville plays in its opener. The Lower Sussex team is perennially one of the strongest in the tournament, a collection of the best 16U players from one of the strongest travel programs in the country with pitcher who throws heat and a lineup full of big hitters.
“It looks like on paper, just from considering last year, it looks like we’re in an extremely difficult pool; there’s some serious competition there,” said Pennsville manager Chris Watson, who postponed celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary this week in anticipation of the team making the Series. “It’s the World Series, it’s going to be tough, right? If it wasn’t it would be a heluva disappointment. Win or lose. You want to go down there and play against the best in the world.
“It’s going to be a test Monday night, it’s really going to be a litmus test for us. Do we belong in the World Series or do we not. Can we stand up to some of the best teams in the world down there. I think our first opponent is one of them.”
The international stage will give another platform for Rappa to talk about her father, Nick, a big supporter of the team who she lost two days after it won the South Jersey championship and a week before the state tournament. His passing has been a huge rallying point for the team. Television loves doing those type of emotional stories, so it likely will come up in conversation for the ESPN telecasts of the games.
“I’m OK with that,” Bella said. “Without him I wouldn’t be as much involved with softball as I am, so to be able to talk about him and let people know he was our biggest supporter, this is all for Nick, this is for my dad (is fine).
“Some of the questions they asked (on the pre-tournament questionnaire) were about what superstitions we had. My dad’s chain. That chain has to be in the dugout, on the clipboard, or nothing’s going to happen.
“The last (regional) game against Rhode Island we didn’t have the chain; I left it at the hotel and started freaking out because I thought I lost it. I had my mom run back to get it and when she was there I was up I grounded out. She came back with the chain, we put it in the dugout and the next at-bat I had a solid base hit. Our team is superstitious. If that chain’s not there, we’re not playing good.”
Maybe, just to be on the safe side, they should get it a suitcase of its own.
SERIES STUFF: The team leaves for the tournament venue from the Pennsville LL clubhouse at 9:30 a.m. Saturday – on a chartered bus provided by Little League. All the teams will be housed in nearby Millsboro … Several of the Pennsville players will join the team in Delaware after playing in a travel tournament in Myrtle Beach … Watson wasn’t ready Friday to commit to his pitching plans for the Series.
SENIOR SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES
Pool A
East: Pennsville LL, New Jersey
Asia-Pacific: Negros Occidental LL, Bacolod City, Philippines
Host: Lower Sussex, Delaware
Latin America: Yankees Family Group LL, Guanica, Puerto Rico
Southwest: Texas District 9, Little River-Academy
Pool B
Canada: YYC Softball LL, Calgary, Alberta
Central: Illinois District 17, Beardstown
Europe-Africa: Czech Republic District 1, Prague
Southeast: Vine-Ingle LL, Macon, Georgia
West: Honolulu LL, Hawaii
Pennsville LL Schedule
July 31 – vs. Lower Sussex, 6 p.m.
Aug. 1 – vs Asia-Pacific, 8 p.m.
Aug. 2 – off
Aug. 3 – vs. Southwest, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 3 – vs. Latin America, 8 p.m.
Aug. 4 – Quarterfinals
Aug. 5 – Semifinals
Aug. 6 – Finals
Riverview Sports News 