When the Oklahoma softball team takes the field at the 2021 Little League World Series, Ailanee Hicks will have played a major part of that accomplishments.world series
The Henryetta Middle School athlete nailed a bases loaded single in the eighth inning of play at regionals that punched the ticket for the Muskogee-based team to head to North Carolina.
The Oklahoma team had battled against Texas West in the regional tournament.
She is the daughter of Rylan Hicks and lives with grandmother Belinda Buckley-Hicks.
This is her seventh year to play softball. She joined the Green Country league this past April and made the Oklahoma All Star team this summer.
Henryetta coach Ryan Swallow praised Hicks’s hitting ability. “She is a power hitter that will be a big help for our eighth grade team this year. Ailanee will be getting stronger and I can’t wait to see her in high school.”
Even though she is known for hitting, she also fits well at third and has even pitched. This past year COVID struck and she has been on the road back from that program. That work has been aided by her aunt Kassidy Hicks and uncle Doug Crowder who have been spending hours in at-home training.
The Oklahoma team starts pool play August 11 against New Jersey. The following day, the Oklahoma girls play North Carolina. Day four of pool play will see them playing August 14 against Nevada then wrap up Sunday with Indiana.
The elimination brackets start Monday morning.
Games at Greenville will be carried on ESPN.