West Dundee-based Tri-Cities Little League sending 10-U, 11-U teams to state competitions this weekend
WEST DUNDEE, Ill. - Tri-Cities Little League, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization providing youth in surrounding communities with tee-ball, baseball, softball and Challenger programs, has hundreds of area families, alumni and local fans anxiously awaiting to cheer on 10-U and 11-U TCLL 2017 All Star baseball teams this weekend playing in state-level tournaments held in Streamwood and Salem, Ill. as they strive to capture state championship titles.
Both TCLL All Star 10u and 11u teams were named District 13 Champions earlier this month after successfully competing against other various district All Star baseball teams in sub-state tournaments in July.
West Dundee Mayor Christopher Nelson sent the league a congratulatory letter of encouragement and support this weekend.
"On behalf of the Village Board and the staff of the Village of West Dundee, I wanted to share our best wishes with the 10-U and 11-U baseball teams that are about to advance to the state finals this weekend. Getting to this point is a tremendous achievement, and our village is quite proud of these great ballplayers and the families who support them. We will be thinking of you all this weekend. Go get 'em!"
The TCLL All-Star 10u team won 5-4 against Streator, Ill. in their last sub-state championship tournament on July 24 in Rock Falls, which officially elevated them to Illinois state competitions slated to be played in Salem starting this Saturday through Aug. 4.
The TCLL All- Star 11u team won 6-2 against Moline, Ill. at their final sub-state championship tournament played in Peru, Ill.
The 11-U team will play in Illinois State competitions hosted by Streamwood Little League in neighboring city Streamwood, Ill. starting July 29 through Aug. 3 at Dolphin Park.
The Tri-Cities 10s reportedly had a tight and competitive final sub-state game and put constant pressure on the Streator pitchers and defense, not striking out a single time until their final out of the sixth and final inning on July 24. All those balls in play took their toll, leading to 13 hits, five Streator errors and a four-run fifth and five-run sixth which completely turned the game around.
Tri-Cities reliever and winning pitcher Spencer Drummond (4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 5 K), is credited for the Streator take-down 1-2-3 in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings as the black and gold team took control.
"He came in and just pumped strikes for us," said Tri-Cities 10u Manager and Coach Jeff Scheider.
"When he came in Streator had six runs, and when he left Streator had six runs. He did a great job, our 'D' took care of a little bit of business … and our team never gave up and kept fighting there," he said.
Luke Gormsen was a home run short of the cycle for Tri-Cities, singling, doubling, tripling and scoring four runs.
Salem Little League is well prepared to host the week long 9-10 year old Little League State Tournament that starts on July 29. This tournament will bring hundreds of visitors along with eight of the best Little League All-Star teams from across the state that advanced through district and sectional level play to get to state tournament level.
TCLL became the state champions in February 2015, after Jackie Robinson West, a South Side Chicago team, was stripped of the 2014 title due to boundary violations by some of the team's players.
The TCLL 2014 state champion team consisted of 13 12-year old All-Stars from the league, which drew from Carpentersville, Algonquin and West Dundee at the time.
• 2017 All Star 10u Team Lineup: Ian Bury, Hayden DeMarsh, Spencer Drummond, Ari Fivelson, Luke Gormsen, Gavin Grummer, Cole Harkin, Anthony Karbowski, Evan Nolte, Jared Russell, Calen Scheider. Manager: Jeff Scheider, Coach Derek Fivelson, Coach Jason Russell
• 2017 All Star 11u Team Lineup: Michael Bubala, Tommy Bubala, Gavin Duran, Nathan Gerritsen, Jacob Guyon, Cameron King, Dominick Kooistra, Bradley Lood, Gage Martin, Paul Rudolph, Jack Schane, Kaeden Wagenaar, Schane Young, Owen Ziaja. Manager: Matt Bubala, Coach Gil Duran, Coach Shawn Kooistra.