WAGS team captures national championship

LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN- Members of the WAGS U-16 team raise the national championship plaque following a 7-1 victory over Los Oswego in Salem, Ore. Team members include Alison James, Brett Hall, Ciara Zeolla, Kathryn Klamecki, Nicole Werdesheim, Stefany Valentino, Brittany Oster, Rose Zeolla, Emily Sampson, Kelli Barmasse and Brianna Zeolla. Mark Zeolla was the manager and Stefan Valentino, Jeff Klamecki, Dina Barmasse and Donn James were coaches. The first time was a charm for the WestlakeAgoura Girls Softball under-16 team.

Despite its storied history of youth championships, WAGS had never before fielded a U-16 squad until this season.

In its inaugural summer campaign, the local team, comprising primarily freshmen and sophomores from Oak Park and Agoura high schools, brought home the biggest prize of them all- a national title.

"It was definitely one of the most amazing experiences I've ever been a part of," center fielder Ciara Zeolla said. "Our team was really close, and it was never about individuals; it was about being a part of a winning team. We became so close that we were pretty much unstoppable."

The national championship run was a process of improving every week at every tournament, said head coach Mark Zeolla.

"The goal from the beginning was to be a national champion; that was our goal three months ago," said Mark Zeolla, who also coaches girls' soccer at Oak Park.

"When we won our first tournament, we thought we were one step closer. Being in third place in district wasn't disheartening because we didn't have all of our players there and we knew, through practice, that we were getting better. The dedication was there from the whole team, and that's why we became successful."

WAGS opened the season with a victory at the Newbury Park Tournament. After that win, the team made the playoffs in the Synergy Travel Team Tournament but did not finish with a trophy.

They gained a pair of thirdplace finishes at the Diamond Bar Tournament as well as the district championship. Up next, the squad advanced to the finals of the state championship before losing to Riverside and finishing in second place.

Although the girls hadn't won a tournament in some time, momentum was building as they prepared to travel to the national championship in Salem, Ore.

"We had a game plan before we left for Oregon that everybody was going to do everything together because that's how you build a winning team," Coach Zeolla said. "We stayed in the same hotel and rented one van for all 11 girls to travel in. Everything we did was done together."

Once in Oregon, the team took off.

Pitchers Stefany Valentino and Kelli Barmasse were performing at their best, throwing strikes and frustrating the opposition with a potpourri of pitches.

At the plate everyone was contributing with key base hits, including bigtime efforts swinging the bats from first baseman Emily Sampson, second baseman Kathryn Klamecki, catcher Rose Zeolla and shortstop/left fielder Brittany Oster.

"We all agreed that every single player peaked at nationals," Valentino said. "Without a doubt, it was our best tournament."

The team went 8-0 in Oregon, easily defeating Los Oswego, Ore., 7-1 in the title game.

"The girls were on fire," Mark Zeolla said. "They made every catch, did everything right. We call it our 'A' game. We always try to play our 'A' game, which is a perfect game. That last game was as close to an 'A' game as we ever played."

More WAGS success

The U-16 squad wasn't the only WAGS team to post solid results at a national tournament.

Playing in Las Cruces, N.M., the WAGS U-10 team finished in ninth place overall. The U-12 squad, led by longtime WAGS coach Jim DePippo, was runnerup to Carlsbad, N.M., in its tournament.

In the U-12 final, WAGS lost a 32 heartbreaker in extra innings. Nevertheless, the team was spectacular throughout the summer, capturing both district and state championships.

On Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m., the U-16 team will be honored by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors at the Ventura County Government Center. According to league director of communications Todd Haines, a separate ceremony by the city of Westlake Village is in the works for the U-12 squad.