Athlete Spotlight: Alyssa Simms and Ava Cicchetti, Softball

Two Lake Shore softball players recently returned from Florida as champions of the Junior All-American Games.

Alyssa Simms and Ava Cicchetti, who both play locally for the Lake Shore Lightning 12U fastpitch softball team, were selected to participate in the Junior All-American Games at the Miss Sarasota Softball Complex in Sarasota, Florida, in November. The event featured top softball athletes of various ages from 32 different states and included an opening ceremony, game competition, instruction, a skills showcase, player evaluations, a home run derby and the opportunity for athletes to be coached by college coaches.

Simms and Cicchetti played for the same team that went 3-0 and won the 12U Junior All-American Games championship. Both players were named to the All-Tournament Team as voted on by the opposing teams’ coaches. Additionally, Cicchetti was voted as the most valuable defensive player, and Simms placed second in the Golden Arm throwing skills competition, which was held the morning of the championship round.