Story and photos by Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The clouds and rain held off just long enough for Southwest Little League to hold its 2018 picnic and Home Run Derby at Steve Cox Memorial Park on Saturday.

While attendees began enjoying the food prepared by league board members and other volunteers, the official program began with the presentation of the league´s Coach of the Year award, which was given to third-year coach Josh Wells:

Following the coach award, trophies were awarded to the winners of the morning’ś Home Run Derby. One champion from each of the leagué’ś five competition divisions — Majors, AAA, AA, Coach Pitch, and Tee Ball — was recognized for hitting the longest fly ball in their peer group.

Majors: Grayson Leui Steele (201 feet, 6 inches)

AAA: Josiah Matautia (209´)

AA: Ezra Cox (159´)

Coach Pitch: Paityn Wells (daughter of Coach of the Year Josh Wells) (113´ 7¨)

Jon Beatty won the Tee Ball competition with 42 feet, 7 inches.

Coaches from each of the league’ś teams were invited to introduce their players in attendance and award them medals and trophies for their completed seasons.

(Wells with his 2018 coach pitch Cubs)

The league´s all-star squads for district competitions were also recognized at the ceremony.

All-Stars Majors:

Gavin Brown
Finn Derning
Jayden Dunbar
Quinn Gonzalez-Wiler
Grayson Leui-Steele
Kevin Martinez
Joellz Matautia
Julian Medina
Cameron Nelson
Noah Nguyen
Konnor Stanley

All-Stars 9/10:

Josiah Barron
Joseph Benavides Jr.
Artise Burton Jr.
Riley Coughlin
Ezra Cox
Jack Derning
Ethan Ellis
Kaeson Filitaula
Mason Filitaula Jr.
Jeremiah Luafalemana
Gary McKay
Cole Utter

Find out more about SWLL here.