Palo Cedro Junior Softball Stars Return as World Series Runners-Up to Hero’s Welcome - Congratulations!!
- Elisa Ballard
- 24 minutes ago
- 2 min read
REDDING, Calif. — August 9, 2026
The Foothill Area Little League Junior Softball All-Stars, representing Palo Cedro and the greater North State, returned home this weekend to cheers, posters, balloons and a police-and-fire escort after capturing second place at the 2026 Junior League Softball World Series. Team members were Cate Brard, Rylee Haynes, Bri Songer, Kylie Kenyon, Olivia Rouland, Val Shaw, Josie Cogle, Hailey Mann, Weslee Barry, Graci Wilson, Emma Saelee, and Sam Wellington. The team manager was Justin Haynes; the coaches were Chuck Mann and Courtney Brard. League games began in February, and the all-star team was formed in mid-May. All-Star games began in June, and the team won Districts, Sections, State, and Regions (in Tucson, AZ), before heading to the World Series in Kirkland. There, they fell to the Southeast Region, 6-4, on Saturday. In the championship contest, Cate Brard got Foothill on the board in the fourth inning, and Val Shaw pushed the team ahead in the fifth. A seventh-inning rally sparked by Josie Cogle, who drove in Kylie Kenyon and Bri Songer, closed the gap but was not enough to overtake Southeast.
The runner-up finish capped a remarkable postseason for the 12- to 14-year-old squad. Foothill went undefeated through the Western Region tournament in Arizona, finishing 4-0 and clinching the regional title with a 12-3 championship victory. That success earned the team its second consecutive trip to the World Series in Kirkland, Washington, and the chance to compete against the best junior softball talent from across the United States and around the world. Some games were broadcast on ESPN platforms.
Standout performer Kylie Kenyon, a key pitcher and hitter throughout the run, set a Junior League Softball World Series record during the skills competition by going a perfect 7-for-7 in the Home Run Derby.
On their return, the team was met at Redding Regional Airport and escorted by local police and fire departments to Whistle Stop Park in downtown Redding. More than 100 supporters — family, friends and community members — gathered with posters and cheers to celebrate the historic postseason. Coach Justin Haynes said, "The team's biggest success was playing together as a family. All 12 were needed to do their part each game to ensure success. They lived in two different hotels the last 19 days of the season, 4 per room, and did not have one single issue. They got along well off the field, which contributed to their success on the field."
Haynes thanked the community for its ongoing support, noting that the players felt the encouragement throughout their games. Shortstop Cate Brard described the experience as unforgettable.
An after-party followed at the Redding Public Market, giving the community another chance to celebrate the girls who put Palo Cedro and the North State on the national and international softball stage.
The Foothill Area Little League Junior Softball All-Stars finished their World Series journey as proud runners-up, leaving a lasting mark with their resilience, skill, and the community spirit that carried them home.
Note: Justin Haynes provided all images above.
