Of topic a bit, but I wondered about this a bit. Several years back my kids were going to a parochial school and the football team went on to win a state championship. Not everyone on that team got to play in that game, but they all received championship sweatshirts and I remember seeing some of my son's friends wearing them proudly even though they didn't play. Everyone contributes in their way.
A high school state championship in football, playing for your school, is infinitely more rewarding and special than a weekend softball tournament. Not sure if you are comparing the two, but they're not comparable, IMO. Only people who care about a travel team is 11 players and 22 parents. If you win a state title in high school football, there are hundreds of people who care. It's in the newspapers, all your friends and family and schoolmates and teachers know about it. Big, big deal.