SIX COUNTY YOUTH SOFTBALL TEAMS — and a pair of local umpires -- earned spots in various national tournaments in 1991.
Three Carroll teams took part in the National Softball Association World Series in Rock Hill, S.C., while three more competed in tournaments sponsored by the rival American Softball Association at various locations.
The three county teams were a combined 4-6 in the NSA events.
Westminster's 12-and-under and 14-and-under teams each went 2-2 during the July tournament, while the Hampstead Hammers 14-and-under squaddroppeda pair of shutouts.
But coaches for all three teams were happy with their teams' showings.
"The important thing is for the girls to enjoy themselves, not so much the wins and losses," said Hampstead coach Keith Woodburn.
John McLain, whose 14-and-under Westminster Rockets won their first two games before dropping a pair, echoed those thoughts.
"After our last game, I got all the girls together to reflect on the good things that had happened to us," McLain said. "I told them they had done their best, and considering we had beentogether as a team only since April, we accomplished a lot."
Jerry Georgiana, the Westminster Rockets 12-and-under coach, even was enthused about his team's second loss in the tournament.
"We made plays that we hadn't made all year," he said. "We never played as well together as we did (in that loss)."
Larry McElroy and Joe Perrin ofWestminster also were umpires at the NSA tournament.
Two weeks later, the Hampstead Heat traveled to Hurst, Texas, for the ASA's 12-and-under event and went 1-2.
Coach Jim McMahon said a lack of offense hurt his team's showing.
Still, he said, the players enjoyed the experience and "it was thrilling to me."
A week later, two more youth teams ventured to ASA tournaments in Georgia. Freedom's 16-and-under team went 1-2 in Tifton, while the Westminster Rockets 18-and-under squad dropped two at Marietta.
Kelly Foreman batted .800 in the three games for Freedom, which won its opener then lost two straight.
Westminster's 18-and-under team included several 15- and 16-year-old players, most of whom will be back.
One adult team from Carroll had some success of note in national play. Random House placed fifth in the NSA Class D Men's World Series in Drifton, Pa.
Severalother adult men's and women's teams won state and regional tournaments.