Photo courtesy of Hilario Vargas.
Savannah Vargas started playing softball at 7 years old, and not long after, she decided she wanted to play on the big stage.
So when it was announced the inaugural Under-15 Women’s Softball World Cup would be held in Japan in 2023, 13-year-old Savannah knew she needed to try out.
After trying out for Team Mexico in August, the Rosemont eighth grader was named catcher for the team, and will compete in a 10-day, 12-team World Cup championship next month.
In the first round, on Oct. 21, Mexico will face Peru.
Savannah Vargas in a team Mexico jersey. Photo courtesy of Hilario Vargas.
Savannah decided to try out for Team Mexico at a two-day tryout in Santa Monica, California, “just to see what it was about,” and to see how her skills stacked up to players outside of North Texas.
On the first day of tryouts, Savannah was one of 90 girls vying for a spot on the team.
“I think like that was the first time I was ever really, really nervous for something,” Savannah said. “Because I actually have been wanting to play for this team for a long time. So I was really, really nervous.”
The tryout process was cut short when Hurricane Hilary hit California. Savannah and her father, Hilario Vargas, were told they’d get a call “soon” if she made the cut.
“It was the first time she ever said ‘If I don’t get this I’m going to cry,’ so I knew that this was something that she really wanted because she never really expressed her feelings like that,” Hilario said.
For a week, Savannah obsessively checked her email. But nothing came.
Then, while out at a family dinner, Hilario’s phone rang.
“At first we thought it was a scam call. I was like, ‘Oh, look, Mexico’s calling,'” Savannah said. “My dad went outside because it was pretty loud in the restaurant, and then he came back in crying. And I was like, ‘Did I make it or not?’ because I couldn’t tell if it was happy crying or sad crying. And he came up to me crying and said ‘You made it bro.’ And then we all started crying.”
Savannah plays catcher and third base, and will be the catcher for team Mexico. The team will arrive in Japan a day early to practice; it will be Savannah’s first time abroad, and her first time meeting her new teammates.
But traveling for the sport is nothing new for Savannah. She also plays for a travel team called Texas Glory, and is involved in the Texas Rangers Youth Academy.
“She’s had to work hard for where she is,” Hilario said. “That’s just the mindset we’ve always had, like, okay we got here to this goal, what’s next? Keep your head down keep grinding, we haven’t done anything yet, is our is our how we feel in our household.”
Savannah said her eventual goal is to play softball on the collegiate level. Playing for team Mexico is both a way for her to get her name out there to college scouts, and to fulfill her desire to represent the country her family has roots in.
While Hilario was born and raised in Oak Cliff, he said Savannah’s desire to play for Team Mexico was an especially “proud moment.”
“For her to want to represent her culture, I think was a big deal for me. Because I feel like a lot of that gets lost nowadays,” Hilario said.
Savannah is one of the youngest players named to the U-15 team, and she will compete with team Mexico for at least the next year.
But for now, any future tournaments or travel opportunities are distant thoughts.
Savannah is focused on Japan. And she wants a medal.
The Advocate will post a tournament link when available so the neighborhood is able to cheer on Savannah.
