This week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week are the 12U and 10U championship teams from the Copper City Softball Little League and Northwest Little League star Benny Cunningham.
Cunningham takes home the boys’ honor. He plays for the Elks in the Northwest 11-12 league. Northwest president Brandon Scown says Cunningham is the top pitcher/catcher prospect in the league.
“Benny is an absolute stud behind the plate and stops runners with just being present at the dish,” Scown said. At last week’s Butte Junior Miners tournament in Butte, Cunningham gunned down a pair of runners attempting to steal third base.
Cunningham is also a monster at the plate. “He’s sporting a .389 average and changing the looks of vehicles that park outside the centerfield fence,” Scown said.
On the mound, Cunningham is a strikeout machine. “Benny leaves no doubts in my mind that his progression has only just begun,” Scown said. “Get used to hearing his name. This fella is going to turn heads for many years to come.”
The players from O’Keefe Drilling, the Copper City Softball 10U champion, and Game-One, the queens of the 12U, share the girls’ honor.
O’Keefe Drilling put together an incredible season in the Minor Softball Division, finishing with an outstanding 13-1 record and earning the title of City Champions. Every player contributed to the team’s success through hard work, teamwork, and determination all season long.
In the semifinal game, Ella Briggs blasted a two-run home run to help secure the victory, while Loghan Smith delivered a huge three-run home run in the championship game. Shea Whitaker was dominant in the circle, pitching two innings in the semifinal and all four innings of the championship game while recording an impressive 13 strikeouts over six innings pitched. Shea also set the tone offensively as a strong leadoff hitter and used her speed to create opportunities on the bases.
Defensively, the team was solid from top to bottom. Mandy Breitmeyer made two outstanding plays at shortstop, while Ella Briggs provided dependable defense at first base. Loghan Smith showed tremendous hustle behind the plate, and Eva McGree anchored second base. Allison Weldon was steady at third base, while Nataley Garrison, Olivia Coates and Elle Shaffer covered the outfield with confidence.
O’Keefe Drillings is coached by Casey Briggs and Brandon Whitaker.
Game-one started the season calling themselves the “Badnews Bears.” They finished the season with a 9-4 record and the Major Softball Division champions, winning eight of nine games to end the season.
The season turned around at the midway point as it started getting contributions from all nine hitters.
Taylor Benski pitched every inning of the season for the champs. Kesten Osborne and Gracie Renz were a wall behind the plate doing majority of the catching. Brynlee Mansell earned the nickname “Golden Glove” with her many flashy plays in the field. Brinkley Greer was clutch all season, especially in the championship game, going 3 for 3.
The team got key hitting and fielding performances from Peyton Huntington, Persephone Weldon, Zaleigh Varcoe and Haley Garrison. The team was coached by Chris Benski and Zach Osborne.
“The hard work these girls put in paid off in the end,” Benski said. “Most importantly, they all grew as players and had fun.”
Since the beginning of 2023, Leskovar Honda, home of the non-commission sales staff that always has your back, has teamed up with the ButteCast to honor the finest student-athletes from the Mining City to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 