MIKE RAMCZYK
The Kenosha 12U Little Leaguers are at it again.
You can watch the boys of summer on TV for the first time since 2022, because they captured the Wisconsin Major state championship July 26.
Now, the team gets to highlight their skills in the big time, ESPN, with a trip to the Little League World Series on the line. No Wisconsin Little League team has advanced to the Little League World Series.
Kenosha will begin the Little League World Series Regionals Thursday in the Midwest Regional tournament in Whitestown, Ind. at 6 p.m. with opening ceremonies.
Friday will be the first game, a 6 p.m. tilt with Minnesota.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
“The kids are very excited to be going to the regionals,” Kenosha head coach Tom Santarelli said Wednesday. “We will be facing very good teams from seven surrounding states. I expect the competition to be strong, but this group of boys has been preparing for this for the last four years.
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“The goal is to win the regionals and advance to the Little League World Series. If they reach that goal, they will be the first team from the state of Wisconsin participating in the Little League World Series.”
The state title game was dominated by the Kenosha pitching.
A 4-0 victory over Whitefish Bay saw Bentley Van Pay get the win with 10 strikeouts and only three hits allowed, while Connor Baumann retired one batter in relief.
Beckett Smith and Zach Lee each knocked RBI hits in the second inning for Kenosha. Benny Santarelli and Gavin McCluskey both added RBIs.
According to Coach Santarelli, Kenosha allowed only eight total runs in seven state tournament games.
“We shut out the opponents in four of the seven games, including the state championship game,” Coach Santarelli said. “Our defense was steady as always. In the semifinal and the state final game, we had timely hitting from a number of players. Very simply, pitching and defense was key to state.”
Kenosha has had a magical run thanks in part to its chemistry and teamwork. Everybody contributes, and there is a family atmosphere.
After advancing to state and not making it to the finals last year, the players took it upon themselves to get better and come back stronger.
“They are truly a team in every sense of the word,” Coach Santarelli said. “Every game, another player steps up and answers the call and they play with the next man up mentality. These boys really consider themselves a family and treat each other just like it. They have really matured and become a very strong unit playing together and for one another.”
The Midwest Regional tournament will take place Aug. 2-9.
The Kenosha 12U team includes Van Pay, Baumann, Aleks Ikonich, Beckett Smith, Benny Santarelli, Drake Wlahovich, Gavin McCluskey, Greg Pulda, Isaac Wolf, Owen Hemphill, Owen Ichen, Tyler Kelley and Zach Lee.
Coaches are Tom Santarelli, Robb Cibrario and Greg Pulda.
Along with Kenosha from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska will battle in a double elimination tournament in which a team must win four games to advance to the championship game.
The Midwest Region championship game will take place Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. on ESPN. The winner will advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.
If Kenosha can beat Minnesota Friday, the next game would be against the South Dakota-North Dakota winner Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN+. The winner of that game plays for a shot at the championship game Wednesday at 11 a.m. on ESPN.
What to watch for
What: Kenosha 12U Little League playing in the Midwest Regional tournament, with a trip to Little League World Series at stake
Where: Whitestown, Ind.
When: Friday night, 6 p.m., vs. Minnesota. If Kenosha wins, the boys will play Saturday at 4 p.m. If Kenosha loses, they will play Sunday at 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
- The tournament goes from Aug. 2-9 and features eight midwestern states' teams. The winner of the tournament will advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.
- Stay tuned to the Kenosha News print edition and www.kenoshanews.com for updates from the tournament.
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