LUTZ, Fla — The Lutz 8u softball team is not your typical youth squad. The coaching staff teaches them techniques and strategies beyond the basics of the game. It's necessary, based on the girls' high level of talent.
"It's impressive to teach them something one time and then watch them put it into action," head coach Ryan Darling said.
He's coached many of the girls on the team for multiple seasons but believes the stars aligned to form an exceptional group this year.
"There's no recruiting. There's none of that," he said. "These girls came here by pure chance, either because they live close or their parents decided to bring them here from a further distance."
Earlier this month, the Lutz Allstars won the state championship for the first time and earned a spot in the Babe Ruth World Series in Florence, Alabama.
"It's been incredible because at one point there's no coaching left to be done. You kind of stand in the dugout and you sit back and watch," Darling said.
The girls are a self-motivated bunch. Some of them stay after practice with their parents to polish their skills.
They do it because they love winning.
"It makes me feel happy and...the rest of the day I'm really happy," Eliana Calderon said.
Coach Darling admits that coordinating travel for the upcoming World Series is a lot of work, but is worth it considering his team is representing the Sunshine State.
"Whether we win or whether we lose, you know, the goal is for them to learn the game, enjoy the game and want to play a lot more of the game."
The Babe Ruth World Series begins on July 23.
