Alva Review-Courier -

WOODWARD – The Alva Chilis U8 softball team completed its fall season Monday night by taking the Crystal Beach Sports Complex U8 Fall Tournament Championship. The Chilis won the first game of the evening over the Arnett Wildcats, and completed the championship with a victory over the Woodward Fury, winners of the regular season championship.

Despite being together as a team for only seven months, the Chilis have become known as one of the teams to beat in the northwestern Oklahoma region at the U8 level.

Coach Efrain Barraza brought the team together in the earlier months of 2019 in order to compete in the NWOK Kids softball league, with teams that included the Alva Diamonds, Arnett, Laverne, Shattuck, Vici and two Woodward teams.

The Alva Diamonds were champions of the NWOK Kids league this past spring.

Barraza's squad, many of whom had not played any form of baseball, softball, or tee ball prior to 2019, continued to grow as the spring season advanced and were ready to compete when the fall league began. The girls learned to battle through defeat and a second place finish in the regular season, to reach the ultimate goal of winning a championship.

The Alva Chilis win the Crystal Beach U8 tournament in Woodward.

"Words can't express how pleased I am with how the girls have grown this season," said Barraza, "from those who helped lead the girls in practice to the parents, family members and friends who supported them along the way. I, for one, am excited about the future of our players both on and off the field."

"We are happy to be a part of a great group of athletic programs in the Alva community."

Members of the Chilis softball team include: Kalie and Kami Kopriva, Chloe Louthan, Brayleigh Byers, Arianna Scott, Paisley Egner, Elliana Barraza, Emmry Like, and Tayla Leech of Alva; Jessie Wimpee of Cherokee; Emmry Cunningham of Waynoka; and Bailea Swonger of Hardtner, Kansas. Gina Wimpee, the sister of Jessie, competed with the team during the spring season.