Walters happy to host, confident in Fairchance team

One year ago Fairchance Little League played host to the Pennsylvania State Championship Little League Girls Softball Finals for the 9-11 Year Old Division.
Fairchance Little League president Rich Walters and his crew must have done something right because Little League Softball turned right back to Section 2, District 9 to host the 2017 event, again in Fairchance.
“Last year they were very pleased with the way we handled it,” Walters said. “The Little League sent us a nice letter about how professionally we did everything. The Fairchance community and the Uniontown area were noted as being very hospitable for teams from across the state.
“Considering it was the first time doing something like this at our community and we didn’t find out we would be hosting until very late, it went very smooth. This year we’re even better prepared because we knew it was coming back. As a result, we were able to receive much better sponsor and community support.”
The pre-tournament dinner for all teams was held Thursday night and action begins today for the six-team field to see which will be crowned as the state champion.
Fairchance is the District 9 representative and is coached by Walters, who is very proud of his team and went through his 10-player roster.
“We’ll rely heavily on our pitcher Kendra Franks and catcher Aleah Walters both offensively and defensively,” Walters said. “At first base we have Taylor Vance. We rely on her glove over there. Our third baseman is Hope Haines who has a strong arm. Our shortstop, Amelia Nuckels, is all over the field. If the ball is in play in right field she’ll run to get it, she covers everything. Our second baseman, Aubriona Bavin, is all about the basics and is very fundamentally sound.
“In the outfield, Paige Rizer is our center fielder and Trinity Hillberry and Savannah Miller split time in right and all those girls provide great speed out there. Our left fielder is Adalena Phelan who provides a strong bat. My assistant coaches, Brad Nuckels and Brad Rizer, do a very good job, too. I can’t say enough about how much they’ve worked with these girls and how much hard work the girls have put in.”
Walters is confident his team will do well in the tournament. Fairchance plays it first game tonight at 7. All games will be played at Fairchance Community Park.
“We’re going to make a run at it,” he said. “We believe we have a good team. We’ll do the best we can and see what happens.”
Walters is hoping the community and surrounding area will come out to see the event.
“I think it’s important for everybody to support our team and the entire tournament also,” he said. “It’s important to have the hometown crowd out there to cheer our girls on.”
The Fairchance 10U team is the third team from the Fairchance Little League to play for a state title this year.
Bishop Robert L. Swope Sr. is the Section 2 Coordinator and the District 9 Administrator.
(The schedule for the event can be found on B2.)