The WestSide Pride 12 and Under girls softball team, which includes players from Malibu, finished third at the recent National Softball Association World Series in Reno.
The Pride qualified for the World Series after winning the state tournament with six victories in two days.
The squad began the World Series with two wins in pool play. Two days later, the team won two more games to reach the quarterfinals.
The next day, the Pride met eventual champion Rocklyn Hype from Northern California, and lost 4-0.
The Pride came back the next day from the losers’ bracket, and defeated Drop Zone, 8-6. Later in the day, the team defeated PLY Fierce, 7 to 6, in an eight-inning International Tie Breaker to move toward the championship game.
In its third game of the day, the Pride lost to the East Bay Vipers, 3-1, ending its bid to win the series.
Pride players received medals and and a plaque for their performance.
The Pride outscored their opponents, 53-21, including two home runs by Karli Rumburg and one by Julie Munoz.
The team’s pitchers-Karli Rumburg, Madeline Kaplan and Julie Munoz-recorded multiple strikeouts. Catchers Frankie Golick and Savannah Mercado endured the desert heat to catch several games each, but both ultimately succumbed to injuries that brought them to Urgent Care. Hillary Edior stepped up to take over in the catcher position.