McCoy sisters help Panther Printing to championship
The arrival of pitching sisters Destiny and Kiara McCoy was a big reason that Panther Printing captured the championship in the Spokane Valley Girls Softball 10U league.
They were among the four champions of this year’s end-of-season double-elimination tournaments the first weekend in August. By and large, the teams were regular-season winners as well.
Only one, Old Country Buffet, the 12U tourney champion did not finish atop its division, but like the other three tournament champs, had gone 9-1 during league play before completing a successful run through postseason.
Old Country Buffet had finished second behind unbeaten Kimmel Athletic in Division 2 of the Valley Girls league, but survived a tough tournament in which six of 18 teams compiled 7-3 or better regular-season records.
Sir Speedy, added the 16U tourney title with three straight wins to complement its regular season first-place finish. And BNSF, first in the 14U League, went on to capture its tourney as well.
The McCoy sisters, said Panther Printing coach Pat Weil, moved to Spokane Valley from California and brought blazing speed with them.
“Destiny throws 48 miles per hour and Kiara probably 44,” said Weil. “Their dad (Sean) is their pitching coach. He’s phenomenal. He worked with the league, in fact.”
They swung pretty mean bats as well, Destiny had 11 home runs during the season, three of them grand slams. Kiara had six homers, while Weil’s granddaughter, Mikayla Jaris, and Bailey Osborne hit a couple each.
Panther Printing (13-1) won five games by shutout and allowed four runs or fewer in four others throughout the season. During the tournament the team beat Conley’s 10-8, Ford and Grimes 13-4 and regular season runner-up Farmers’ Market 18-3 and 9-5. Farmers’ Market lost just three times during the year, all to Panther Printing.
Panther’s only loss was 18-16 when the McCoy sisters were gone.
Team members, who also contributed offensively and defensively were Rachel Bain, Brianna Troksa, Miranda Lahman, Taylor Wixom, Abby Rogers, Maggie Randles, Hannah Wesselman, Miley McKinley and Emily Conant. Assistant coach was Randy Osborne.
“The whole team was really, really good,” Weil said, “especially defense-wise.”
Weil coached her daughter in California before moving here 10 years ago to be nearer the family. She is now coaching her granddaughter and said she plans to do so as Mikayla advances through the ranks.
School seasons near
And now it’s time for autumn sports as another school year approaches.
Football teams are already into their second week of practice, and University will get a jump on everyone with a home game against Lake City of Coeur d’Alene next Wednesday.
Central Valley and East Valley are on the road Friday at Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene respectively. West Valley hosts Mt. Spokane in a nonleague game.
Greater Spokane League begins Sept. 8.
Other sports began practice on Monday. Volleyball and girls soccer begin next weekend with the first GSL games on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, respectively. First GSL cross country meets are Sept. 14.