Timber Rattlers secure Appleton Little League city softball championship
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With Lily Soda providing the pop and Alayna Wallace and Brooklyn Mauel providing the pitching, the Timber Rattlers defeated Play It Again Sports 10-6 on Kratzer Field at USA Youth Sports Complex to win the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship June 24.
Soda tripled in a run and scored on a wild pitch in the first inning, hit a two-out, two-run home run in the third inning and tripled in a run and scored in a five-run sixth inning to key the offense.
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Soda, who was hanging on to the championship trophy, said winning the title was a pretty good feeling.
“At first it was hard meeting the new people and getting to know them,” she said. “But toward the end when we would have wins and stuff, it was fun. It was like a team celebrating. It was a good year with everyone.”
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Timber Rattlers secure Appleton Little League city softball championship
The Wisconsin Timber RattlersÕ coach Sarah Guido congratulates Lily Soda (45) after she hit a triple to drive in a run against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Timber Rattlers secure Appleton Little League city softball championship
The Wisconsin Timber RattlersÕ coach Sarah Guido congratulates Lily Soda (45) after she hit a triple to drive in a run against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Play It Again Sports’ Lucca Bruno is safe at third base against Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ Brooklyn Knorr (9) during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Play It Again Sports manager Todd McMahon high-fives Lydia Walters after she scored a run against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Play It Again SportsÕ Emma Erickson, left, shares a laugh with Aylee DeBruin after ending an inning against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Timber Rattlers secure Appleton Little League city softball championship
Play It Again SportsÕ Emma Erickson, left, makes a difficult catch avoiding a collision with Aylee DeBruin (4) against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Play It Again SportsÕ Paige Yang (10) and Lydia Walters (22) try to get to the ball in centerfield against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Play It Again SportsÕ Marni Stingl (3) fields a hit against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber RattlersÕ Brooklyn Knorr (9) tries to field a hit against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Play It Again SportÕs Aylee DeBruin (4) pitches against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Lily Soda (45) scores a run against Play It Again SportsÕ Emma Erickson (17) during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber RattlersÕ Brooklyn Knorr (9) tries to tag out Play It Again SportsÕ Lydia Walters (22) during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber RattlersÕ Alayna Wallace (41) pitches against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Persephone Rocheleau (27) fields a hit against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Play It Again SportsÕ Marni Stingl (3) fields throws to first base against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Persephone Rocheleau (27) and Lydia Westfahl (26) collaborate to force out Play It Again SportsÕ Emma Erickson (17) at second base during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Persephone Rocheleau (27) is all smiles after making a play against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Annie Roloff (18) fields a hit to right field against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Tenley Struensee (10) loses the ball trying to tag out Play It Again Sports’ Lydia Walters at third base during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber RattlersÕ Alayna Wallace pitches against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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Play It Again Sports’Lucca Bruno (98) is safe at second base against Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ Ava Guido (1) during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ Ava Guido (1) celebrates defeating Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ Annie Roloff (18) high-fives teammates after defeating Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers coach Sarah Guido congratulates Lila Soda (45) after she got to third base against Play It Again Sport during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wisconsin.
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
Wallace, meanwhile, allowed one run over the first three innings and then came back to close out the game.
Wallace, who was sidelined by an injury until about four weeks ago, said it was challenging sitting on the sideline.
“I knew my team would have my back,” she said. “I knew I would be able to help the team do the best they could.”
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And when Wallace was finally able to return to the mound, what was that like?
“It all came right back,” she said. “I’m very used to pitching. It was kind of normal.”
Timber Rattlers manager Sarah Guido said it has been a fantastic season.
“We started off battling some injuries,” she said. “We had girls working through it. We had girls who needed to step up, learn new positions and support the team together. Then we went on a winning streak and at the end just had it clicking together.”
Timber Rattlers manager Sarah Guido congratulates Lily Soda after she hit a triple to drive in a run against Play It Again Sports during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game June 24 at USA Youth Sports Complex.
Guido talked about how eager her players were to tackle the challenge of learning new positions.
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“Each girl came with a really great attitude and a willingness to learn and try,” Guido said. “They put in the effort and the time. We had a whole team of support.”
Coaching these girls was a lot of fun for Guido.
“This has been a fantastic group of girls,” she said. “The energy and the positivity that they bring every day and they’re willing to learn and try hard has been a great joy and an easy way to coach.”
Soda found it enjoyable as she and her teammates progressed over the course of the season.
“It was amazing like watching some of the batters who wouldn’t get hits at the start of the year started hitting bombs at the end,” she said. “It was great to watch.”
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Wallace said she enjoyed watching the team grow together as the season rolled along.
“It was great watching us fight together as a team, not as individuals,” she said. “Everyone was able to shift to where they needed to be which was best for the team. I’m just proud we were able to overcome things like changing and learning new positions.”
Play It Again Sports catcher Emma Erickson makes a catch while avoiding a collision with Aylee DeBruin against the Timber Rattlers during the Appleton Little League Major Softball city championship game June 24 at USA Youth Sports Complex.
On the other side of the diamond, Play It Again Sports manager Todd McMahon knew his team, which won the city championship in 2025, would have its hands full against the Timber Rattlers.
“We had like six girls back from last year’s team, so we were pegged as kind of one of the favorites but all along I knew the Timber Rattlers were going to be one of the favorites this year,” McMahon said.
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McMahon said it was a lot of fun watching his squad progress over the course of the season and make its way to the championship game.
“It was a fun season with six returning girls and five new girls and they really came along,” McMahon said. “Madison Meyer, our leadoff batter, is only 10 years old. To see these kids come along, we knew we’d be a good team but we always knew that the Timber Rattlers were going to be the team to beat and they showed it.”
It was also enjoyable for McMahon to watch the Play It Again Sports team steadily improve in the fundamentals of the game.
“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “The hitting was always there. We’ve got really good hitters. We’ve got five all-stars going forward now.
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“I’m so proud of these girls with the injuries they went through. How resilient they were and to see them fight that last inning. We’re definitely proud. Second place? We’ll take it.”
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