Girls’ softball team returns from World Series on West Coast

JEFFERSON COUNTY, W.Va. ( DC News Now ) — A girls’ softball team from Jefferson County just returned home after competing in the World Series on the West Coast, playing teams from as far away as the Philippines and Czech Republic.

The girls are proud to have taken their game to the world stage.

This is their last summer before they enroll in high school but what an experience they had: winning regionals in North Carolina and then going to the Seattle area to play the world’s best.

“I didn’t think we were going to make it as far as we did until we went to the regionals,” said centerfielder Carlee Cogan. “And then once we beat the first two teams I was like, wait, we might actually win.”

Though they did not advance to the finals, the experience was most meaningful.

“This is the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” said Kylie Benner, shortstop and pitcher. “And just coming from this small little field in Jefferson County, going all the way to Seattle, it was like, awesome.”

The girls pride themselves on teamwork.

“We always do a little prayer in the beginning,” said first baseman Kinsley Kuehnel. “We try to lift each other up. If we make a bad play, we just reset.”

The experience of playing on the world stage is something the entire team will cherish.

“It was awesome,” said McKenzie O’Hara, pitcher and shortstop for the team. “The World Series provided so much for us. I just think it was really fun.”

And these girls hope for repeated success next year.

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