Hinsdale's 12U squad readies for world series after stunning run to elite tourney
The Hinsdale Little League 12U district team is geared up for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. The boys, most of whom have played together for years, begin their road to the title at 2 p.m. tomorrow. (photo courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball)
Summer may be winding down, but Hinsdale Little League has never been hotter. Or "gooder," according to the team's abiding mantra.
"Before we take the field, we say, 'This team's good, but we're gooder!' " player Dillon Phelan revealed.
On Aug. 7, the town's 12U district team captured the Great Lakes Region title in thrilling fashion to advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., for the first time in program history.
Speaking Monday via Zoom from their dormitory in the Little League International Complex, the boys seemed to be settling in well.
"We have a perfect view of the field," said team member Alex Vivanco of their accommodations. "We share a bathroom with Australia, and below us is Canada."
They'd even leaned into the cross-cultural exposure by accepting the Aussies' invitation to try Vegemite.
"It tastes like salty bacon," Vivanco said.
The whirlwind run that began at Peirce Park July 5 has featured a steady diet of winning - 13-0, to be precise - to earn a berth in the venerated tournament bringing together the top 10 U.S. teams and top 10 international squads. Undefeated runs through both the district and state tournaments conferred on Hinsdale the mantle of Illinois representative at the Great Lakes Region tournament in Whitestown, Ind.
In the Aug. 3 opener against host Indiana, Hinsdale showcased strong pitching and defense in 3-0 victory. The team's next contest against Kentucky also proved to be a low-scoring affair. Scoreless for Hinsdale, in fact, as the boys found themselves down 2-0 going into the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Fred Sackley doubled to score Colin Boots. The next batter, Kellan Goodwin, hit a sharp grounder to the shortstop, who's throw home to get Sackley got away from the catcher. It was 2-2 and the teams would play an extra inning.
Team members admitted discouragement was creeping in when they were down but Boots said everyone tried to stay positive.
"We couldn't just sit in the dugout being down. We had to be up and support our teammates," Boots said.
Once the momentum had shifted Hinsdale's way, the confidence that had powered the team all summer seemed to take over. With Kentucky unable to score in the top half, Shane Behar hit a double to lead off the seventh. The next batter was Emiliano Nepomuceno, who smashed a double off the right fielder wall. Game over.
"We were trying to keep the energy up," said Nepomuceno, who was praised by the ESPN commentator for both his fielding prowess and walk-off hit heroics.
The region's title game was a rematch with Indiana in which another bit of comeback magic would need to be summoned. A Phelan two-run home run in the third inning gave Hinsdale a seemingly comfortable 6-2 lead. But Indiana battled back to take a 7-6 lead in the top of the sixth. Down to its last strike, the team was on the verge of defeat until Michael Kipnis ripped a base hit into center field to drive Goodwin from second and knot the game at 7.
"Michael Kipnis with the biggest base hit of his life!" exclaimed the commentator.
Into extras, again, and the score stayed tied until the bottom of the eighth, when Vivanco drove in his teammate from second (placed there under California rules format). World series ticket punched!
"They're drama queens," quipped coach Luke Goodwin, noting the celebration that erupted from the team's supporters. "A lot of people made the trip down, so that was really appreciated and very helpful to have so many people there cheering us on. Because we were playing Indiana, so they had a lot of people there, too."
From there the group headed straight to Williamsport, where they received their media day onslaught of photos and interviews. Oh, and plenty of swag, too.
"New gloves, new bats, new cleats, new bags" Vivanco said.
"We're not sure how we're going to get it home," Luke Goodwin said.
The team practices once or twice a day but is not overdoing it, Goodwin noted. The complex has a game room and pickleball courts where kids from different teams can mingle, and they all eat in the same mess hall.
"It's been an awesome experience, meeting new teams," Vivanco said. "Even if they don't know our language, we're making new friends everyday."
And memories, too, that will last a lifetime.
The team will play at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Aug. 16, against the winner of yesterday's game between Hawaii and New Hampshire, which was played after press time. All games are being broadcast on ESPN.
