So Pas Softball Champs Bring Home First-Ever State Title

By
Steve Whitmore
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Bottom Row from L to R - Chloe Phe, Naiya Kim, Anaya Quinonez, Jolene Wu, Reese Buckley, Rysie Ybarra, Annika Selsby, Emma Becerra, Rose Vandevelde, Olivia Chin, Natalie Kan; Back Row, From L to r - Coach Peter Phe, Head Coach David Selsby, Coach Curtis Kan Courtesy photos
Bottom Row from L to R – Chloe Phe, Naiya Kim, Anaya Quinonez, Jolene Wu, Reese Buckley, Rysie Ybarra, Annika Selsby, Emma Becerra, Rose Vandevelde, Olivia Chin, Natalie Kan; Back Row, From L to r – Coach Peter Phe, Head Coach David Selsby, Coach Curtis Kan Courtesy photos

South Pasadena brought home the state Little League Championship for ages 8, 9 & 10 recently at Kent Mace Field in Westchester. 

So Pas beat Southridge LL, Fontana, 2-1 to wrap up an undefeated run, finishing with a record of 7-0 in postseason play. 

On the right, Rysie Ybarra with jersey number 00 and starting catcher Chloe Phe, #7.

Rysie Ybarra led the charge for So Pas, pitching all 24 innings, posting a .75 ERA, while recording 45 strike-outs. All the scoring South Pas needed occurred in the top of the 3rd when Rose Vandevelde drew a one-out walk and Natalie Kan, Annika Selsby, and Ybarra followed with consecutive singles to bring in two runs. Ybarra made the two runs stand to throwing a one-hitter with 16 strike-outs. 

It was redemption for So Pas, as they were on the same field last year with just two outs from capturing the state title before Westchester/Del Rey rallied in the top of the sixth inning to snatch the top prize.   

South Pasadena, however, would not be denied this year. They became the first South Pasadena Little League team at any level to win a state title. They also are the first District 18 – of which South Pasadena is a part – softball team to win the state title at the 8-9-10 level since state play began in 1994.

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