One step from Little League World Series, Lexington team looks to make history

A Lexington Little League team is just one step away from the littlest big stage in baseball.

Eastern Little League’s 12U All-Stars defeated Bowling Green East 2-1 for the Kentucky Little League crown on July 23, inching closer to a spot in the 78th Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Eastern will represent Kentucky at the Great Lakes Region Tournament Aug. 2-6. It will be pitted against state champions from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois for a spot in the LLWS.

“These kids have worked so hard for this moment. I’m so happy for them and for the families. We are a close group so doing this together is extra special. We are going to take a few days to enjoy winning state and then get back to work to prepare for regionals,” head coach Jake Riordan said in a press release. “We like to say pressure is a privilege. Our team plays loose, we play fast and they play for each other. We will continue to do that regardless of the stage. Let’s go Eastern!”

Eastern had to power through two local tournaments to get to the Great Lakes Regional. First, the team comprised of the best players from Eastern’s Little League regular season, had to win the District 3 championship. Riordan said Eastern outscored its opponents 54-2 in that tournament.

The state tournament followed. Eastern survived a bracket of eight teams, which included seven district champions and the host district’s runner-up, to win the state championship.

Riordan said the experience has been a “grind.”

“These kids pretty much give up their summer vacation. ... They practice six days a week and then they go play in the state tournament,” Riordan said. “It’s a lot of hard work that’s paid off for these kids.”

Lexington was the first Kentucky city to have a team reach the LLWS according to the tournament’s website, as a squad from Gardenside qualified for the event in 1971. The last Lexington team to make the LLWS was from South Lexington in 1978.

Since then, eight Kentucky teams have qualified for Willamsport from Louisville, Owensboro, Russellville, La Grange and Bowling Green. Valley Sports American of Louisville, in 2002, became the only team from the commonwealth to win the Little League World Series.

The Little League World Series has been held every summer in Williamsport since 1947 and is typically televised nationally, making it the most well-known event on the the youth baseball circuit.

The Great Lakes is one of 10 US regions that feed champions to the LLWS. The other 10 teams come from eight international divisions.

Eastern has never had a team qualify for the LLWS. This year marks only the fourth time Eastern’s 12U team has won the state title, joining the 1953, 2017 and 2023 teams.

“Our kids are all excited, they’re fired up, they’ve worked hard to get here,” Riordan said. “Our whole league is behind us.”

Where can you watch?

Eastern will open its double-elimination run in the Great Lakes Region Tournament against Ohio’s West Side Little League All-Stars from Hamilton on Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. EDT in Whitestown, Indiana. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

A send-off event is planned for the team on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Ecton Park before it heads to Indiana. The Cellar Bar & Grille, at 3256 Lansdowne Drive, is hosting a watch party Saturday for Eastern’s first game.

A loss against Ohio would put Eastern on the brink of elimination; a win would propel them to a second-round game against Michigan on Sunday. The semifinals and finals of the Great Lakes Regional on Aug. 5-6 will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

The national Little League World Series is Aug. 13-24 and will be broadcast on ESPN platforms.

Eastern Little League All-Stars

Players: Banks Denton, Owen Dineen, Levi Forester, Collier Haydon, Cooper Haydon, Kingston Hudspeth, Henry Kretz, Grayson Krift, Mason Martinkovic, Sawyer Mizell, Aubrey Moloney, Cash Pogrotsky, Grant Riordan.

Coaches: Jake Riordan, O’Shea Hudspeth, Mike Kretz.

This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 4:08 PM.