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By Seth Stapleton Tribune Sports Writer

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride vs. Millington

USA Pride: Local 14U team to compete in NSA North World Series

SEBEWAING It was a simple doubleheader between two area softball teams, but it served a much bigger purpose.

Tuesday's games between 14U squads USA Pride and Millington were both a tuneup and a fundraiser for a USA team that is on its way to the National Softball Association North World Series.

"It should never surprise me, in the communities of Unionville and Sebewaing, that we would have a good turnout," said USA Pride coach Tom Williamson of the event. "And it was a better turnout than I expected."

Williamson said the initial goal of the friendly matchup Tuesday was to just find a good team to play a doubleheader against. With the help of the community though, it turned into a fundraiser and an opportunity to promote the entire travel program.

Williamson, who has been part of USA's summer travel softball program for many years, said it's the first time a USA team will compete in the NSA World Series.

"Our goal as a program is not to go win tournaments, we want to go compete," Williamson said. "If we win, great, but we just want to play the best competition we can to get better as a program."

In the past, USA travel teams have always played in three or four tournaments throughout the summer. This year, the 14U team decided to try to qualify for the NSA tournament. They played in a qualifier in Midland over Memorial Day weekend and placed second, qualifying them for the big event.

It will take place in Crown Point, Indiana, beginning Tuesday. USA Pride will open the tournament at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, then play again at 4:45 p.m. that day. From there, the team will be seeded into a double elimination bracket. At minimum, they will play a total of four games.

"They are so excited they can't stand it," Williamson said of the team. "I'm really happy in the fact that we are representing USA travel softball as a whole. We're representing USA and really proud of it."

At the NSA tournament, USA Pride will be competing against around 40 teams from the likes of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Kentucky. While the task may seem daunting, Williamson feels his team is playing its best ball of the summer at this point in time, fresh off a title at the Grand Blanc tournament a weekend ago.

"They're hitting the ball really well and we've got three pitchers, which is important to get through a long tournament," Williamson said. "I'm really pleased with the way that we're playing right now. We've gotten better all year long, so we'll see what happens when we go into next week."

Added Williamson: "This team, it is truly like family. Every single one of these kids get along so well. And more importantly, the parents are unbelievable. The amount of help we've received is amazing. As a coach, you can't ask for anything more than that."

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USA Pride: Local 14U team to compete in NSA North World Series - Huron Daily Tribune