Featuring a roster loaded with Seminoles, the Okeechobee Belles softball team (ages 13-15) won the District 5 championship in June.

The team will head to the Panhandle to play in the Dixie Softball state tournament July 7-10 in Bristol.

Tribal members on the team are Merlaysia Billie, Serenity Billie, Melaine Bonilla, Amalia Estrada, Ayana Fonseca, Adeline Garcia, Carlee Osceola, Truley Osceola, Kiara Snell and Kashyra Urbina. Non-tribal players are Jaelyn Lineberry and Emily Rucks.

Danny Bonilla is the team’s head coach. Assistant coaches are Melanie Bonilla and Shyla Jones.

The team won the double-elimination district tournament against Fort Meade and Sebring.