Edwardsburg fires up for their game.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

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State Little League Majors Tournament Off to Great Success

Sixteen Teams Compete for State Title

July 14, 2013       Leave a Comment
By: John Keuvelaar

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Under a blazing sun, sixteen teams took to the Essexville-Hampton Little League fields in search of chance at a dream. The dream ultimately being a trip to Portland, Oregon and the Little League World Series. For many, the journey is more about an opportunity to compete against some of the finest eleven and twelve year old girls Michigan has to offer in softball competition.

Essexville-Hampton Little League unveiled their revamped softball diamonds which included new brick dugouts and backstops to go with their other first class accommodations. As one coach put it, their girls will never have the opportunity to play on such a great softball complex. But this weekend was not just about nice ball fields. It was about enjoying the fun and fellowship that Little League softball embraces while competing at a high level.

Thursday's opening ceremonies started under cloudless skies with the local veterans' color guard displaying our American flag. All sixteen teams lined the outfield grass being introduced as their district champions representing all corners of Michigan. A special appearance and introduction was the 2004 Essexville-Hampton All-Stars who not only won the Michigan State title in 2004. This team went on to win the Central Region title held in Joplin, Missouri before traveling to the Little League World Series in Portland, Oregon. There they placed 5th in the world.

Ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by two people. Allison Gust representing the 2004 team threw to her then teammate, Caitlyn Keuvelaar. Denny Geno was also honored with the first pitch. He is one of the founding fathers of our present EHLL program, helping coach the first State title team in 1983 and most prominently helping young women not only in the area but across the state learn the finer art of fast pitch softball throwing.

But the rest of the weekend was about young women playing and competing for state softball supremacy. Pool play was held on Thursday through Saturday with the top two places in each pool advancing to the quarter finals which were held Sunday afternoon. Teams from North Ottawa (Grand Haven area), Escanaba, Roger City and St. Clair Shores all advanced to Monday's semi-finals which begin at 3 pm. The winners play for the State Title on Tuesday at noon at the EHLL complex.

The EHLL All-Stars battle hard in their pool but were unable to advance. They lost two heartbreaking one run games on Thursday and Friday to Edwardsburg and North Ottawa both by a score of 4-3. But the team battle back in their Saturday contest winning on a bases loaded single to pull out a nail biting 6-5 victory over Beaverton.

While the scoreboard may say otherwise, the girls and fans were clearly the winners as they played their hearts out for nothing more than a smile and a high five. Loud cheering, hot dogs and community support is what Little League sports is all about.

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John Keuvelaar
John Keuvelaar is a college student at Midwest Photography Workshops and Delta College. More from John Keuvelaar

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