Two Okeechobee Citizens Recreation Association youth softball teams with Seminole players will be vying for state championships in July.

Okeechobee’s Darlings 8 and under team, which features Seminoles Serenity Billie, Waniya Fortner, Alyssa Madrigal, Joleyne Nunez and coach Daniel Nunez Sr., won their age division in June at the district tournament in Lake Placid.

Okeechobee used a big offense, strong pitching and solid defense as they went undefeated by beating Lake Placid 23-2, Fort Meade 22-0 and Sebring 14-1. The team will travel to the Panhandle to play in the state tournament July 6-10 in Bristol.

Meanwhile, the determined effort of the OCRA Angels paid off with an invitation to the state tournament. The Angels reached the district championship game, but lost 7-6 in eight innings. Still, their performance earned them a chance to battle for the state title as the squad tries to return for a second straight year to the World Series. Last year, many of the players on the team won a state tournament and played in the World Series in Petal, Mississippi.

The Angels have plenty of representation from the Tribe on its roster, including coaches coaches Preston and Mona Baker and players Lexi Thomas, Preslynn Baker and Summer Gopher.
The Darlings World Series will be held in South Carolina. The World Series for the Angels age category (9 and 10) will be held in Louisiana.