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Oakdale Softball Duo Make Select All American Team
USA Elite
softball
Heading to Orlando, Florida to play in the inaugural ESPN Wide World of Sports USA Elite Select All American Games are Kylie Valente, left, and Delainey Everett of Oakdale. The two softball sluggers outlasted hundreds of Northwest Regional hopefuls to advance to the July tournament. Photo Contributed

 

Two of Oakdale’s youth softball players are preparing to make a trip to Orlando, Florida to play in the inaugural ESPN Wide World of Sports All American Games July 13 through July 16. Oakdale youngsters Delainey Everett and Kylie Valente were named as members of the Northwest Regional Under Ten team after a tryout in Woodland, California back in February, and were informed earlier this month that they had made the team.

Everett and Valente began playing softball in Oakdale’s Oak Valley Youth Softball Association (OVYSA) and now are teammates on the travel team Lodi Grapettes.

“It is exciting to be a part of the team, and travel. I like playing softball with my friends and getting to know new teammates,” said Everett.

She is a pitcher and also plays first base.

“Pitching is a big responsibility but it is also exciting,” Everett added.

The youngster is one of three pitchers to make the roster. Former college softball outfielder Chelsea Brennan had high praise of Everett in a video posted on the USA Elite Select website.

“Everett has great command in the circle and is impressive for her age,” Brennan stated in the website video.

Valente, a third baseman, played six seasons for OVYSA and loves the sport.

“It is fun and I like to play it. I like playing for OVYSA and the Grapettes. I am excited about going to play in Florida too,” said Valente.

The road is tough to get to Orlando, but these girls achieved it by outlasting hundreds of hopefuls in the tryouts. The country is divided into eight regions and only 15 players make it in each region.

The next step for the softball standouts will be flying out to Orlando for just two practices before taking the field in Orlando for the games.