A sweet summer of success for WAGS softball

By Steve Ames Special to The Acorn

Brianna Zeolla

It’s been a great year for Westlake Agoura Girls Softball (WAGS). It had teams with innovative names like Purple Rain, Howdy Hotties, Blue Waves and Xplosion. WAGS had six divisions of more than 750 players.

WAGS, one of the largest recreational fast pitch softball leagues in Southern California for players from 6 years and under to 14 and under (plus high school), teaches girls from March to May—and then into the All-Star season—how to play the game while playing it.

Mark Zeolla, coach and board member, said, "We’re very dedicated to trying to educate the kids to make them into better players down the line.

"We’re assuming most of them want to play at the high school level and they’ll definitely get the training through the regular season and the All-Stars––if they make the All-Stars. It’s a very, very rewarding program and very successful with the kids."

Dani Hazlewood

Collegiate softball coaches consider Southern California to be the most competitive nationwide.

Many WAGS players go on travel teams. While Westlake Agoura softball coaches would rather keep the travel squad players for themselves, Zeolla said, "It’s a good accomplishment for us." It means the girls are getting even more competitive.

"Since they have gone to travel, we have done our job," Zeolla said.

WAGS has existed for a quarter of a century.

Kelsey Jensen

"It just has progressively grown every year," said Commissioner Tim Hazlewood, who’s been involved in WAGS since 1998.

While teaching the basics of softball, the players build confidence, skill and knowledge, Hazlewood said.

Zeolla agreed.

"If they love it, they love it. They’re in it for life," he said.

"You see how confident they get. That’s the reward I get," Zeolla said. "When they get a base hit and they’re on base, and that smile lights up ear to ear—every time they’re successful is my reward."

Divisions are 6 years and under (a combination T-ball and coach pitch), 8 and under, 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under and high school. Teams include players from schools throughout the Conejo and San Fernando valleys and Las Virgenes.

"Our program feeds the local high schools," Hazelwood said. Oak Park, Agoura and Westlake high schools all have had players from WAGS, he said.

WAGS is technically a "B recreational league." WAGS teams play their games at schools primarily in Conejo Valley, and at local high schools and in public parks.

Four of the girls in WAGS, all students at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park, said their experiences have been special.

•Catcher Dani Hazlewood, sixth grader, said she enjoyed throwing out 10 people at second base. "I practice a lot and I’m kind of just used to it."

•Pitcher Kelsey Jensen, sixth grader, gained several victories because of her excellent pitching. "In the state tournament we won in a tiebreaker and I pitched the last out," she said. "It was very exciting because with the win, my team was able to keep playing."

•Second baseman Brianna Zeolla, sixth grader, scored on an unusual round tripper. "I got a home run off a bunt in All-Stars," she said. "It was really fun. It was off lots of errors. But it’s really cool."

•First baseman Ciara Zeolla, seventh grader, made a key defensive play. "In the state tournament I made a diving catch in center field," she said. "That was great." She ran a long way to make the catch, she said.

When the regular season ends in May, WAGS forms All-Star teams and they travel to other tournaments and play top teams from other leagues.

This season, WAGS teams were in six tournaments in Newbury Park, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Escondido, and one team, 10 and under, made the state championships and finished 10th of 57 teams in their age group.

Most rewarding for those who guide the teams, said coach Steve Jensen, is watching the girls respond when they’re successful—‘‘The smiles on the girl’s faces when they succeed and do well, and learn from their practices and games."

Most of all, Jensen said, the girls enjoy hitting. "The girls really respond to the hitting practices and the aspects of hitting that are special to softball," Jensen said. "That’s very rewarding to me to watch them succeed after practicing and learning."

But all aspects of softball are exciting, he said. "The fielding—the defense is a very big part of the game—and fielding is something that you have to work on all the time," Jensen said.

The girls also like to score runs. During the All-Stars season some of the teams donated $5 for every run scored.

WAGS also emphasizes that there’s more to life than just sports, according to Hazlewood.

The 12 and under gold team made its home plate a dinner plate for the homeless. "The team had an incredible season, scoring 221 runs totaling a $1,105 donation to the Los Angeles Homeless Shelter," Zeolla said.

"The 12 (and under) silver team donated $5 per child and matched by the parents to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, generating 100 runs, totaling a $1,000 donation."

As WAGS looks to next season, Hazlewood said the organization is seeking new board members.

"We’ve had several people retire this year," he said. "Their daughters are going on to high school or travel ball, and they’re stepping down. We are looking for people who are dedicated to the program.

"They have to be willing to work. It’s a lot of work. I won’t deny that. I won’t sugarcoat it. It’s a ton of work, but it’s very rewarding and it’s a lot of fun."

Jensen also had words of praise for those who serve WAGS.

"There are a whole lot of dedicated people who are working in this league, a lot of coaches, a lot of board members, a whole lot of people that nobody ever sees who put in a lot of effort and a whole lot of time into helping these girls—to teaching these girls," Jensen said. "To me, this is what this is all about. A lot of people put in a lot of time into making the league successful . . . and of course it’s about the girls."