Hinsdale has been the most successful Little League Baseball program in Illinois since claiming a State title in 2017 in the 12 and under age category.
With new rosters of players each summer, Hinsdale also won State championships in 2021, 2022 and again this year.
But the local boys have taken a new, big step for themselves this time, by winning the Great Lakes Region Tournament Wednesday, Aug. 7 in Whitestown, Indiana.
That success means Hinsdale, for the first time, will advance to the Little League World Series Aug. 14-25 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. That competition includes 10 Region champions from the United States along with 10 international teams from around the globe.
Hinsdale’s first game in the World Series is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16.
League President Bill Jaqua said the success of this year’s team has been wonderful for both the league and the community.
“The community has really come together,” he said. “A lot of people showed up for watch parties, and this really is a special group of kids, off the field, too. They’re just such good kids.”
After breezing through the July 20-24 State tournament in Rochelle, Rock Falls, and Sterling, by a combined score of 63-5 in five games, including an 11-3 championship game victory July 24 over Elmhurst Youth Baseball, Hinsdale made the familiar trip to Whitestown, Indiana, for the five-team Great Lakes Region tournament.
Team manager Chad Wanless knew his team was talented, heading into the State tournament.
“You need great talent, and you need a little luck to advance to the World Series,” he said. “You don’t really think about going to the World Series, but I believed we had the talent to do it. We took it one step at a time, while working hard and having fun.
“Hinsdale is such a proud baseball community, and we hope to continue to make everyone proud.”
Hinsdale opened the Great Lakes Region competition Aug. 3 with a 3-0 win over Indiana and advanced to the championship game with a thrilling, 3-2 victory Aug. 5 over Kentucky.
Kentucky scored runs in the second and fifth innings for a 2-0 lead, but Hinsdale rallied in the bottom half of the sixth with two runs to send the game into extra innings.
Colin Boots was hit by a pitch to start the sixth inning and with one out advanced to second base on a passed ball. Fred Sackley drove in Boots with a one-out double and advanced to third base on an error. Sackley then scored the tying run when Kellen Goodwin reached base on an error.
Hinsdale pitcher Alex Vivanco got Kentucky out in order in the top of the seventh inning, setting the stage for the win in the bottom half of that frame.
Shane Behar led off with a double and scored the winning run on a double by Emiliano Nepomuceno.
Indiana defeated Kentucky Tuesday Aug. 6 in the elimination bracket, setting the stage for a rematch with Hinsdale for the Region championship.
Hinsdale took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, without a hit, as the home team used a walk an error and a fielder’s choice to push Sackley across the plate with the first run and another error and a steal of home by Dillon Phelan to increase the early advantage.
Indiana closed the gap to 2-1 with a run in the top of the second inning, but Hinsdale came right back in the bottom half of that frame to make it 3-1 by using an RBI single by Vivanco to score Nepomuceno, who had reached base on an error.
Indiana closed the gap to 3-2 in the top of the third inning, but Hinsdale rallied with a three-run outburst in the bottom of the third for a 6-2 lead. The big hits came from Sackley, Goodwin and Phelan, who hit a two-run homer.
Hinsdale carried the 6-2 advantage into the top of the sixth inning, but Indiana rallied with five runs to take a 7-6 lead.
With a trip to the Little League World Series on the line, Hinsdale had one more chance to tie, or win, in the bottom of the sixth.
Sackley led off with a single, and Goodwin followed with a fielder’s choice. Phelan flied out for the second out of the inning, but Michael Kipnis became a hero when, with an 0-2 count, he doubled to drive in Goodwin with the tying run.
Neither team scored in the seventh inning, and pitcher Grant Wanless kept Indiana off the board in the top of the eighth, starting with a runner on second base.
Ethan Chan was Hinsdale’s runner on second base to start the bottom of the seventh, and he scored the winning run when Alex Vivanco led off with a double.
Players on the Hinsdale roster are Grant Wanless, Alex Vivanco, Colin Boots, Dane Graham, Dillon Phelan, Emiliano Nepomuceno, Ethan Chan, Fred Sackley, Jimmy Macri, Kellen Goodwin, Michael Kipnis, and Shane Behar.
Coaches, along with manager Wanless, are Damon Phelan and Luke Goodwin.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
